Heroin addict given seven years

A chronic heroin addict who watched several family members suffer drug-related deaths has been given a seven-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robberies, escaping from custody and discharging a firearm.

Paul Cummins (aged 23), who has 111 convictions, has not spent Christmas out of custody since he was 15 years old.

Cummins, of Turvey Avenue, Inchicore, pleaded guilty to three robberies, an attempted robbery, possession of a shotgun and escaping from custody on dates between November 2006 and December 2007.

Ms Karen Cummins told defence counsel, Mr Pieter Le Vert BL, that she and her husband were both heroin addicts during her son’s childhood and that there was "chaos and destruction and deaths in our family".

She told Judge Katherine Delahunt: "My son is as much a victim as those people."

She said Cummins was reared by her mother and he was devastated when she died while he was in prison. She said he was "very honest" and always admitted his crimes.

Judge Delahunt said Cummins had a "horrific history" of criminal activity and noted the victim impact reports outlined "the trauma which has arisen" from his offending.

Judge Delahunt imposed seven years in consecutive sentences and suspended the final year on conditions.