Botched getaway raider remanded for sentencing

An armed robber who was apprehended when the chain of his getaway bicycle broke as he was fleeing, with his gun suspended on a rope around his neck, has been remanded on bail for sentence on July 21 next.

Anthony Kershaw, aged 48, of Primrose Row, Darndale, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery from the Cash Converters discount jewellery shop on Malahide Road on April 5, 1996.

Detective Garda Anthony Ryan told prosecuting counsel, Melanie Greally BL, that Kershaw and an accomplice entered the jewellery shop just after noon on April 5, 1996.

They were both carrying imitation firearms.

Kershaw pointed a gun at the Australian manager of the shop and scooped jewellery worth IR£11,628 into a bag he was carrying.

The other man held a shotgun. Both men then fled the shop with the jewellery.

The shop manager and his colleague followed the two men and saw them squeezing through a fence nearby and get on two bicycles parked outside for their getaway.

As the two men pedalled away, the shop manager and his colleague followed them on foot.

Shortly afterwards a passing car came to their assistance and they followed the two men through an industrial estate.

A garda patrol car in the vicinity also observed the scene at this stage and joined the chase.

It was at this stage that the chain of Kershaw’s bicycle snapped and he could get no further while his accomplice fled the scene. He was never apprehended.

Kershaw was arrested and most of the jewellery recovered.

Det. Gda Ryan said Kershaw had pleaded guilty and was remanded on bail. He kept his bail conditions for a period of time but then absconded.

Kershaw’s counsel, Ms Caroline Biggs BL, said Kershaw was HIV positive and had gone to England at the time to seek medical attention.

He had also been afraid that he might get a sentence that ran into double figures for the robbery and that he might not live long enough to be a free man again.

Ms Biggs told Judge Desmond Hogan that Kershaw, who had 27 previous convictions when he was arrested for the robbery has not come to adverse attention of the gardaí or English police since then.

She said he had used the time that has elapsed to rectify his criminal behaviour and become a law-abiding citizen.

He came back to Ireland because his sister was very sick, knowing that he would be apprehended if he came back.

He was currently under medical care at Beaumont Hospital and his health was stable despite being HIV positive as a result of the medical attention he had sought in England when he was living in exile.

Judge Hogan remanded him on bail, taking into account all the factors relayed by Ms Biggs and ordered that he be monitored by the Probation and Welfare service until the sentence hearing in July to clarify his suitability for a non-custodial sentence.