Robber convicted on evidence of dead garda

A robber who was found guilty by a jury on the evidence of a deceased garda has been given a four-year sentence by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Patrick O’Connell (aged 28), of Dingle Road, Cabra West was convicted in just 15 minutes by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on January 21 last after a three-day trial.

The jury found him guilty of robbing 900 Dalmane tablets valued €250 from Reddy’s Pharmacy, Moibhi Road, Glasnevin on July 27, 2004.

O’Connell had originally pleaded guilty to the charge but changed his plea to not guilty after the death of Garda Kevin Stratford who was in charge of the prosecution.

His trial was the first case in which evidence collected by a deceased member of An Garda Síochána was allowed to be given to the jury.

Judge Patricia Ryan backdated the sentence to run from September 24, 2006.