A drug addict who has spent most of the last nine years in prison has been jailed for four years. Paul Browne (26), of Mounttown Estate, Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty to stealing £118 from the XtraVision shop in Dalkey on November 10th, 1997, and to assault with intent to rob a youth on November 7th, 1997, at Killiney DART station.
Garda Brigid McGowan said Browne was unlawfully at large at the time of the offences. He had 25 previous convictions, dating back to 1989. He had turned to crime due to his drugs habit.
Browne's mother told Judge Carroll Moran at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court she was horrified that her son had used a syringe in both offences but since going into custody last November he seemed to have changed for the better. He was now sorry for his actions.
Garda McGowan told Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh, prosecuting, Browne said to a young male assistant in the Xtra-Vision shop: "Do you know what to do when someone threatens you with a syringe." The assistant handed out £118 cash to Browne. An elderly male customer witnessed this threat. He later identified Browne to gardai.
Garda McGowan said three days earlier Browne had approached a youth at Killiney DART station and asked him if he had "any smokes". He then began searching the youth's pockets and got nothing. Browne then produced a syringe needle and said he would use it unless the youth allowed him to search his pockets properly. He pricked the youth's neck with the needle and the victim has been having tests since, which have proved negative.
Defence counsel Ms Marie Torrens said while Browne had denied in interviews with gardai that he had used a syringe, he had pleaded guilty to the offences.
Judge Moran said he would review the case on November 2nd, 1999, to see what progress Browne had made in tackling his addiction.