Former addict jailed for eight years for robbery

A former addict whose plan to commit a robbery to repay a €40,000 drug debt was foiled by armed gardai has been given an eight year sentence.

A former addict whose plan to commit a robbery to repay a €40,000 drug debt was foiled by armed gardaí has been given an eight year sentence.

Barry Keating (aged 24) had beaten his drug addiction but was left with the “legacy” of his debt which arose a year earlier when he gave a cache of drugs to the wrong person and as a result his life was under threat.

Keating, of Ferrycarrig Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of an 8mm calibre semi-automatic pistol in suspicious circumstances at Grange Park Drive, Raheny on March 9, 2010.

Keating also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Grange Road, Baldoyle on November 14, 2008 and at Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino on January 17, 2009.

He further pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Grace Park Road, Drumcondra and simple possession of heroin at Clontarf garda station on January 17, 2009.

Judge Katherine Delahunt noted that the drugs offences had arisen as a result of his addiction before Keating had detoxed with the help of his family. She said that while Keating may have been afraid for his own life he did not seem to be concerned about inflicting terror in others.

She noted that there was hope that now Keating is clean of drugs he will not resume his previous life.

Judge Delahunt imposed consecutive sentences totalling eight years but suspended the final year.

Detective Garda John Delaney told Mr Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that on March 9, 2010 gardaí acting on confidential information began a surveillance operation of a grey fiat Brava which stopped at Grange Park Crescent near a local post office.

Armed gardaí approached the car and when the driver was removed gardaí found an unloaded small-calibre pistol on his seat. Keating refused to get out of the passenger seat and was forcibly removed.

Keating was wearing surgical gloves and gardaí also found a motorcycle helmet, balaclava and a sledgehammer in the car.

Keating told gardaí that about a year previously he had been taking drugs and had given a stash of drugs to a person but was unable to remember who. As a result he owed the drug dealers €40,000.

He said he had been beaten badly and there had been pipe bombs outside his relative’s house.

Keating told gardaí he was expecting compensation from a car crash but the drug dealer would not wait for that money so he felt his only option was to commit a robbery. He said the plan for the robbery had not been his but he had gone along with it.

Det Gda Delaney agreed with Ms Úna Ní Raifeartaigh SC (with Mr John Byrne BL) defending, that Keating had given the drugs away during a time when he was “out of his face 24-7” on drugs and was under enormous pressure to repay the criminals as well as being in “genuine fear.”

He agreed that Keating talked about his own role but did not give other names due to his fear.