Man jailed for attempted robbery seven years ago

A former drug addict who absconded to Australia seven years ago when due for sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an attempted robbery which resulted in a garda leaving the force has been jailed.

Anthony Doran (aged 30), with an address at East Wall Road, Dublin 3 moved to Australia with his partner and two children when due for sentence in December 2000 but was arrested last December (2007) when found in possession of false passports.

Terence Dunleavy, his co-accused, who pointed a loaded firearm at Garda Patrick O'Hara when they attempted to rob the Irish Permanent Building Society on Main Street, Malahide on November 23, 1998 was jailed for five years in December 2000 by Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne.

Dunleavy, with an address at Annadale Crescent, Marino was killed when shot in the head outside Croke Villas Flats, on Sackville Avenue, in April 2005 shortly after his release from that sentence which had been reduced to four years by the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Doran pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shot gun with intent to rob the building society and to attempted robbery. A female staff member was kicked in the head during the crime.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of Ir£570 worth of "ecstasy" tablets at Fairview Park, on January 16, 1999.

Detective Sergeant Gerard Feeney told Mr Colm O'Briain BL, prosecuting, that Gda O'Hara returned to work for a short time five weeks after the incident but again went on sick leave before leaving the force.

Gda O'Hara had arrived at the building society to find a man wearing a balaclava standing over a woman. Dunleavy then ran over to him, pointed the gun at his chest and told him to "back off" or he would shoot.

The garda put his hands up and backed across the room. Doran then ran from behind the counter and fled the scene with Dunleavy following behind.

Det. Sgt Feeney said Gda O'Hara gave chase to the two raiders and while he was running to his patrol car in pursuit of the men, Dunleavy continued to point the gun at him.

Doran and Dunleavy drove off in a stolen sports car before it crashed into the perimeter fence of Malahide Sailing Club. Both men ran off but the gardai continued to chase them on foot, while Dunleavy continued to point the gun at Gda O'Hara.

Gda O'Hara caught and arrested Dunleavy following a short pursuit after he saw him throw the gun away while his colleague arrested Doran.

Defence counsel Mr Sean Gillane BL, told Judge Desmond Hogan that "even my client" acknowledged and recognised the bravery of Gda O'Hara's intervention and mentioned this to gardai during his interview with them.

Mr Gillane said Doran was homeless at that time and had started to mix with "associates who were willing to commit crime". He had a drug addiction but was now drug free and had been working while he was living in Australia.

Judge Hogan imposed a six year sentence on Doran for the Malahide attempted robbery and firearm possession and a two year consecutive term for the drug offence.

He suspended the last two years of the sentences on condition that Doran be of good behaviour for four years on his release from prison.

Judge Hogan said it was an "extremely serious offence" were threats were made and guns were pointed at "those unfortunate enough to be in the building society at the time and at gardai.

He accepted that although it was Dunleavy who pointed the shot gun at Gda O'Hara, Doran showed "an act of gratuitous violence" while he kicked a staff member in the head as she lay on the ground.