A Belfast man and a woman received suspended jail sentences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for attempting to rob a city jewellery shop.
Judge Frank O'Donnell said despite what they did both accused were victims of civil strife in Northern Ireland, and were entitled to a fresher look at life than others who were not subjected to this type of violence while growing up.
George Smyth (30), single, Joy Street, and Nicola Jordan (20), single, Distillery Court, Grosvenor Road, pleaded guilty to attempting to rob Robert Weldon Jewellers, Lower Camden Street, Dublin on February 24th, 1998.
Garda Conor Gleeson agreed with prosecuting counsel Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh that Jordan entered the jewellers at 10.30 a.m. acting as a customer and buzzed the front door. Mr Weldon pressed the button to the security door and let her in. Jordan then held the door open for two accomplices carrying rolls of masking tape.
Garda Gleeson said Mr Weldon became suspicious after spotting the outline of a gun in the pocket of the third raider, Eamonn O'Boyle, who had been sentenced to two years' jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court recently for the offence.
Mr Weldon quickly pressed the shop alarm and ran at the raiders to try to ward them off. He then went to hide in a safe place inside the shop.
Garda Gleeson said Smyth admitted later that the first time he saw the gun was in the shop. He added that Jordan had earlier tried to persuade the others not to commit robbery. Smyth had a serious record of previous convictions including a 15-year jail sentence for rape in Belfast and 4 1/2 years for grievous bodily harm.
He was also a chronic alcoholic. Jordan had no previous convictions and made a full admission. Defence counsel Ms Isobel Kennedy asked Judge O'Donnell to consider a letter submitted from Smyth expressing deep regret and remorse for his actions.
Judge O'Donnell said if it was not for the letter Smyth submitted he would have jailed him for a long time. He said: "You have been given a chance."