Pregnant robber is given suspended sentence

A heavily pregnant woman has been given a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robbing a young woman as she walked home from a night out last year.

Martina Dempsey's co-accused and brother, Robert Dempsey, did not appear in court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest

The pair told gardai they had planned to rob a taxi driver with another young man, who has since fled the jurisdiction, but spotted Ms Rachael Walsh walking home alone around 2.20am on the Swords Road and decided to take her bag.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced the woman to three years, suspended in full for three years, and 18 months probation. She broke down in tears when the sentence was read out until her solicitor explained to her that she would not have to spend any time in jail.

Garda Ronan Murphy said Robert Dempsey (aged 20) of Grove Gardens, Verdemont, Blanchardstown had a balaclava and metal baton when he was searched at nearby Elmfield Park and told gardaí he planned "to jump a taxi".

Gda Murphy told prosecution counsel, Mr Patrick McGrath BL, that Martina Dempsey (aged 22) of Old Town Road, Ballymun admitted she grabbed the woman's bag and punched her in the face before running towards the park with the two men.

Gda Murphy said the mother-of-two punched Ms Walsh below her chin and in her left eye, shouting: "Give me your bag or we'll kill you."

He said Ms Walsh identified her three assailants in the park and recovered her bag when gardaí took her on patrol shortly after they arrived on the scene.

Gda Murphy agreed with Robert Dempsey's counsel, Mr Pieter Le Vert BL, that his client had no direct involvement in the offence and walked away as his sister and friend robbed Ms Walsh's bag.

Gda Murphy agreed with Martina Dempsey's counsel, Ms Geraldine Small BL, that her client and the two men had been drinking all evening prior to their decision to commit a robbery.

Ms Small told Judge Martin Nolan that Martina Dempsey had a troubled upbringing and is pregnant.

Mr Le Vert said Robert Dempsey was ten years old when he committed his first offence and is one of ten children who were all put into care.

Judge Nolan told originally told Mr Le Vert that he doubted the probation report would stop him from "imposing a severe custodial sentence".