Couple get suspended sentence for post-disco syringe robbery

A criminal couple who worked together to rob a man at syringe-point, after he accepted a lift from the woman outside a Leeson Street disco, have been ordered to carry out 240 hours community service by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Eamon Kinsella, aged 20, of Pearse Street, and Katherine Byrne, aged 28, of O’Rahilly House, Ringsend, pleaded guilty to robbing €200 from the victim on July 20, 2003.

Garda Mervyn Rice agreed with Byrne’s defence counsel, Mr Luan O Braonain BL, when evidence was heard last July, the circumstances "could have caused embarrassment" for the victim if the case had gone to trial.

Garda Rice told prosecuting counsel, Ms Orla Crowe BL, that the victim "bumped" into Byrne when he emerged at 4am from the Leeson Street disco during a weekend visit to Dublin.

They chatted for a few minutes and when he told her he was staying with friends in Clone she offered him a lift there.

But, instead of driving to the Meath-Dublin border village, she drove to Hope Street in Ringsend where Kinsella emerged from under a blanket in the back of the car and pointed a syringe at his neck.

Garda Rice said the victim told of seeing something "red" in the syringe and was frightened as to what might happen. He handed over his wallet with €200 when Byrne advised him to do so.

The couple then drove off leaving the victim on the street. He raised the alarm through a householder who answered his knock and gave details of the car and the couple to gardaí.

Garda Rice said he spotted the car shortly afterwards while on patrol and arrested both of them.

Kinsella initially gave a false christian name but they admitted their crime.

Garda Rice agreed with Ms Sandra Frayne BL, for Kinsella, that her client hadn’t come under garda notice since this matter.

Judge Desmond Hogan acknowledged the two had presented favorable probation reports to court, which he had ordered at the original hearing last July.

Judge Hogan, who had rejected an offer of compensation which Ms Frayne said Kinsella was willing to pay, sentenced both Byrne and Kinsella to two years in prison but substituted this with 240 hours community service each.