Four years for attempted robbery of video store with butter knife

A Swords man who attempted to rob his local video store armed with a butter knife shortly after he had been granted bail on two charges of burglary has been given a four-year sentence by Judge Tony Hunt.

Jonathan McGuirk (aged 26), of Cherry Avenue, had been arrested the previous night after being disturbed by the owners while stealing from two local houses but was released on bail after being charged.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at two premises on June 11, 2007 and to the attempted robbery at Movie Plus in Swords on June 12, 2007. He had 45 previous convictions.

Judge Tony Hunt described McGuirk as "an incredible nuisance in the Swords area" but said he was not violent and co-operated with gardaí whenever he was arrested.

Judge Hunt imposed consecutive sentences totalling four years and suspended the final two years on conditions.

Garda Eoin Tracey agreed with defence counsel, Mr Cathal McGreal BL, that McGuirk, was "not a very clever burglar", had never used violence and was "easily led".

Garda Colm Donahue told prosecuting counsel Ms Caroline Cummings BL that a staff member at the video store saw McGuirk enter with his hood up and go into a staff area.

When all customers had left, McGuirk emerged, armed with a butter knife he had picked up, and threatened the lone staff member who told him to "f*** off".

Gda Donohue said McGuirk put down the knife, telling him he was only joking. The staff member told McGuirk he could not do things like that and that he was barred from the store.

McGuirk then became agitated and told the man that his girlfriend had an account at the store although he could not remember the account number. He verbally abused the staff member before leaving the store and was arrested later that day.

Garda Tracey told Ms Cummings that McGuirk had rung the bell of a Swords apartment the previous day and entered the house on getting no reply but fled when the owner confronted him.

He then entered the bedroom window of a nearby apartment where a woman and her son were watching television. When confronted, he told the woman he was looking for her boyfriend, who he said owed him money.

Garda Tracey said the woman replied that her husband lived with her and didn’t owe anyone money. She told to him get out and when he left she called the gardaí.

Garda Tracey said he responded to the call and saw McGuirk nearby. He gave chase and saw him enter the window of a third premises which was also occupied by a couple and their child. He escaped out the back window where he was caught by gardaí.

Garda Tracey said McGuirk appeared to be intoxicated when taken to Swords Garda Station but was fully co-operative and made complete admissions in interview. He was charged and then released on bail.

Mr McGreal submitted that McGuirk had never been convicted for a violent crime, was co-operative with gardaí and had committed the burglaries to pay off a €1,000 "drug debt".