A man who broke into a home and “savagely” attacked the owner to get keys for a car he later used in a robbery has been jailed for seven years.
Lee McDonnell (22) and an accomplice broke through the front door as the homeowner tried to fight them off.
They beat the man over the head with an imitation firearm made from two metal bars until he gave them keys to his car. They used the vehicle to commit a service station robbery three hours later.
The judge imposed a nine- year sentence and suspended the final two. He said this will run consecutively to a partially suspended three-year sentence McDonnell is serving for an assault.
Det Garda Ronan Coffey said the man suffered a small fracture to his skull and had to get 10 stitches.
McDonnell, of Lough Conn Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aggravated burglary at Ballyfermot Drive, Ballyfermot, on January 21st, 2012. He also pleaded guilty to burgling a prison officer’s home in Lucan on December 11th, 2011.
Previous convictions
McDonnell had 108 previous convictions, including robbery, assault, firearms possession, hijacking, dangerous driving, criminal damage and endangerment offences.
Det Garda Coffey told Michael Bowman, prosecuting, that the prison officer recognised McDonnell when he woke to find the intruder in the bedroom doorway.
McDonnell left the premises immediately and drove off in the man’s car.
Judge Martin Nolan described the aggravated burglary as “deeply reprehensible”. He said everyone was entitled to feel safe in their homes and noted that the two men had “savagely attacked” the victim.