Three years suspended for pharmacy robbery
A recovering heroin addict who robbed a pharmacy across the road from a garda station after he panicked when he smashed his bottle of methadone has been given a three-year suspended sentence by Judge Frank O'Donnell.
Thomas Kavanagh (aged 40) of Derry Park, Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of the pharmacy in Crumlin on February 5, 2008. His 23 previous convictions included road traffic, drug and robbery offences.
Judge O'Donnell said it was a "stupid robbery" but accepted that all of the cash taken in the raid had been recovered by gardaí after they stopped Kavanagh outside the shop door.
He further accepted submissions from defence counsel Mr Luigi Rea BL, that Kavanagh was afraid he would relapse back into his addiction when he smashed the bottle of methadone and his initial intention was to demand the heroin substitute from staff rather than cash.
Judge O'Donnell said that a probation report before the court put Kavanagh, a father of two young children, at a moderate risk of re-offending and noted that he had been dealing "quite well" with his addiction.
He suspended the entire sentence on condition that Kavanagh keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years. "If you come back before me you will do the time," Judge O'Donnell warned Kavanagh.
