Mugger sentenced for robbing children collecting for charity

A mugger, whose victims included three school children collecting for charity and seven other people in Dublin, has today been sentenced to four years in prison.

Gary Lawrence (aged 30), who committed the majority of the offences while on bail, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of robbery, four counts of attempted robbery and two counts of possession of a syringe.

The court heard he was addicted to the then legal head shop drug 'Snow Blow', which he would inject into his leg. He also took heroin.

Judge Yvonne Murphy suspended the final 18 months of the term due to his co-operation with gardaí and his efforts to get off drugs.

She ordered that he go into a secure residential drug treatment facility on his release.