Man jailed for robberies

A Dublin man who committed four robberies during a week-long drink and drugs binge has been jailed for two years.

Judge Martin Nolan commented that Edward O’Brien's robberies were “crimes of desperation” that warranted a custodial sentence even though he seemed to have his life back together.

The 35-year-old from Williams Place South pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing cash and a laptop at knifepoint from a Dublin 8 shop, attempting to rob a James Street Centra, robbing a Kevin Street Number One Shop while threatening staff and attempting to rob a Chinese woman of her handbag on Church Street in September of 2008.

He had 19 previous convictions.