Extra jail time for young thug – Sunday World

Jamie Byrne, now aged 20, was on bail waiting sentence for attempted robbery of a bookmakers when he took part in the attempted robbery of a newsagents and robbery of a service station.

Byrne is currently serving a two and a half year sentence for the offence at the bookmakers and had been due for release next month. He has seven previous convictions.

Byrne of St. Teresas Road, Crumlin, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery of a newsagents on Sundrive Road, Crumlin on January 26, 2016 and robbery of a Texaco Garage, Crumlin Road on January 27, 2016.

Judge Karen O'Connor noted that one of the business owners had experienced a significant increase in his insurance premium as a result of being robbed and has had to let one member of staff go.

She said that these offences were not in any way victimless crimes.

She said all of society pays for this type of crime in terms of increased security and insurance costs for businesses.

Judge O'Connor noted that Byrne came from a supportive family and had suffered with a drug addiction in the past.

She imposed a two and half year sentence to run consecutive to his current term. She suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions.

Garda Shane Curtis told Fionnuala O'Sullivan BL, prosecuting, that Byrne had jumped up on the counter during both offences.

In the first, an attempted robbery, his co-accused had been armed with a broken bottle while Byrne engaged in a fight with a staff member. The pair fled empty handed.

Gda Curtis said in a robbery the following morning Byrne was first into the store while his co-accused, who was armed with a chair leg, demanded money from staff. They made off with 625.

Byrne, who had been captured on CCTV and was wearing distinctive clothing, was arrested.

Gardai found 200 on his person. Judge O'Connor ordered that money be returned to the business owner.

Defence counsel, Barry Ward BL, said Byrne had been addicted to cannabis and cocaine in the past but submitted he had moved on from his chaotic addictive behaviour.

He said he was instructed Byrne was part of peer group at that time, of which he was the youngest, and there was an element of bravado.

He submitted Byrne was making progress and had an appreciation of the damage he had done.

Mr Ward said Byrne, who is now a father himself, had a supportive family background.

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Extra jail time for young thug - Sunday World