A heroin addict who subjected motorists to robbery and violence over a 12-month period has been remanded for sentencing to May 3rd by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Mark McCowan (25), of Knockmore Crescent, Tallaght, had eight previous convictions and served three years of a five-year sentence for manslaughter imposed in 1995.
He pleaded guilty to a number of assaults causing harm, robbery and unlawful seizure of motor vehicles between November 1998 and November 1999. One charge related to the beating of a taxi driver, Mr Francis Brannigan (63), on November 28th, 1999.
A co-accused in that case, Niamh Gilmartin (21), of Donomore Avenue, Tallaght, received a 2-1/2-year suspended sentence after she pleaded guilty to robbery and assaulting Mr Brannigan.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne said McCowan was facing a lengthy custodial sentence.