Homeless man admits false robbery claim

A homeless man who falsely accused his friend of robbing him at syringe point so he could claim extra dole from social welfare, has received an 18-month suspended sentence.

Alan Galvin, aged 31, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, to making a false report to the gardaí in relation to Colin Fisher and falsely identifying his girlfriend, Ashley Muldoon, in an ID parade on August 8, 2001.

Garda Oliver Henry of Store Street garda station told Martina Baxter BL, prosecuting, that Galvin appeared in the station on August 8, in a state of distress, to report a robbery.

He told gardaí he was walking over O’Connell Bridge, after collecting his dole, when he heard someone calling him and when he turned he saw Mr Fisher and Ms Muldoon gesturing for him.

Garda Henry said Galvin told them he went over to the couple and claimed Mr Fisher put a syringe to his neck, while Ms Muldoon took IR£87, the remainder of his social welfare, from his pockets.

The accusation led to the arrest of Mr Fisher and Ms Muldoon on the same date, after Galvin told gardaí where they could find them. They immediately denied the accusation.

Galvin was asked to pick out Ms Muldoon, in an identity parade, the following day in Store Street.

His positive identification led to her arrest and she was placed in custody for 12 days. She was wanted on another offence at the time.

Garda Henry told the court that the case arising out of Galvin’s false claim was processed as far as a trial in the Circuit Criminal Court.

Garda Henry said he visited Galvin on March 27, 2003 in prison where he was serving a sentence, to inform him that he was to appear as a witness in the trial that coming April.

Galvin then admitted to the garda that the statement he made was false and said he had made up the accusation because he thought it would allow him to get more money from Social Welfare.

Garda Henry told Ms Baxter that Galvin had a drink and drug problem at the time and that he felt that if he told gardai he had been robbed, the social welfare office would give him the Ir£87 he had claimed was stolen.

Judge Desmond Hogan said he accepted that Galvin did not realise the consequences of making the false report. He further accepted that Galvin was extremely apologetic for the trouble he had caused Mr Fisher, Ms Muldoon and the gardaí.

Judge Hogan said it was nonetheless a serious offence to make this allegation as it led to Ms Muldoon being imprisoned, but he noted that she had another charge before her at the time.

He sentenced Galvin to 18 months in prison but suspended it on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of three years and that he undergo a drug treatment programme in conjunction with the probation services.