A HEROIN addict who took part in the syringe point mugging of three women Slovenian tourists in Dublin city centre has been jailed for six years. The women had only been in Ireland for an hour and one was so traumatised she left the State the next day.
However, her two companions were helped out by gardai and they enjoyed a week's stay in Ireland even though their passports and inter rail tickets were destroyed by the robbers, Det Garda Noel Cluskey, of Store Street, said.
Just in Godson would have been on his way to Sean McDermott Street to buy heroin when he and his accomplice encountered the women on Foley Street, the detective told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Godson (22), a father of two, with an address at Woodlawn Park Grove, Firhouse, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to robbing two of the women's wallets, various foreign currencies, pounds and a gold necklace on July 10th, 1996.
Judge Cyril Kelly listed the case for possible review on July 28th, 1998, when he is also to consider a drugs sentence Godson is serving at present.
He said that like about 85 per cent of cases coming before the court, this one had a drugs background. It was much better for someone to come out of prison after having treatment instead of coming out worse than when he went in.
"If he takes steps to deal with his drug problem I'll take steps to incorporate him back into society," said Judge Kelly. But he added: "I will not have tourists attacked in this town in this fashion."
Last November, Godson was jailed for four years for possessing heroin for supply and the unlawful possession of cannabis resin on December 21st, 1995.
Det Garda Cluskey told prosecution counsel, Mr Fergal Foley, that the women had arrived by ferry from Britain.
They took the DART into the centre of Dublin and were looking for a hostel when approached by the defendant and another man.
One of the men pretended to be a tourist himself and asked for directions to O'Connell Street. As one of the women was looking at a map she was pushed up against a wall and punched in the face. The second robber threatened the other women with a syringe.
The men took the women's belongings and ran off to a nearby flat. However, gardai raided the flat a short time later and recovered the money.
In reply to Mr Gerry O'Brien, defending, Det Garda Cluskey agreed Godson had been a drug addict and would have been on his way to buy drugs when he got involved in the robbery.
The victims were not physically injured abut were traumatised. Attacks on tourists had been prevalent around the time of the incident, he said.