Man threatened to shoot and stab schoolchildren

Three Limerick children were robbed by a man who threatened to shoot and stab them on their way to school.

Clyde Keogh, aged 20, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to robbery and attempted robbery.

The offences took place on January 21, 2016, when Keogh of Ballyclough Ave, Ballinacurra Weston, was on “a bender of alcohol and drugs”, the court heard. He was detained by a parent of one of his victims before gardaí arrived.

The children handed over their phones for fear of being shot or stabbed after Keogh told them that he had a knife and a gun. No weapons were found when he was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to mugging two boys, aged 13 and 15, and a teenager, aged 18, and stealing their phones. He also admitted attempting to rob another boy, aged 15.

Garda Steven Noonan agreed with Brian McInerney, defending, that Keogh had been abusing drink and drugs following the death of both of his grandparents, who had reared him to the age of 12.

Mr McInerney added: “He could not be questioned by gardaí for six hours because he was so intoxicated. He was so drunk he picked up some staples and tried to eat them. He was a physical wreck. In fact, he was in such a ragged state he couldn’t have survived much longer. Today he is a different man.”

In January, Keogh threw a plastic bottle of Coke at Judge Marian O’Leary after he was refused bail on the charges at Limerick District Court.

Judge Tom O’Donnell remanded Keogh in custody for sentence on December 16.