'Addict' jailed for seven years

A 'crac' cocaine and heroin addict who went on a crime spree in which he held up shops and threatened staff with weapons has been sentenced to seven years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Mark Kenny (aged 34), of Crawford Terrace, Ballyfermot pleaded guilty to committing 12 robberies on dates between October 2005 and May 2006 in various areas of west Dublin. He had 31 previous convictions for road traffic and robbery offences.

Paul Burns SC, defending, said Kenny was a father of one, had spent most of his life in custody and had a chronic addiction to heroin which he had no difficulty in obtaining while in prison.

Mr Burns said Kenny was desperate to feed his heroin and crack cocaine habit and wanted to apologise to his victims.

Judge Katherine Delahunt suspended the final year of his sentence on strict conditions.

Garda Ronan Coffey told Caroline Cummings BL, prosecuting, that in November 2005 Kenny entered a Shell Service Station and took €145 from staff whom he threatened with a syringe containing liquid.

Kenny used weapons such as screwdrivers and knives to hold up other shops in which staff were in fear of their lives.