A TEENAGER who posed as a prostitute to lure a man into a robbery trap has had her sentence adjourned until next April by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jennifer O'Brien was a drug addict living rough in the city centre area at the time of the offence in 1994. Her father died of AIDS that year and her mother was ill with a related illness now, Judge Cyril Kelly was told.
O'Brien (18), of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Dublin, pleaded guilty to her role in the robbery on April 24th, 1994. The ringleader in the offence had already been jailed for five years for robbery and hijack, the court was told. Another man is due for sentence soon.
Judge Kelly said people like the victim in this case "who cruise around the city looking for paid sex are also guilty of a criminal offence", but that should not leave them open to attack and robbery.
Del Garda Fergal Foley agreed with Mr Andrew Flynn, defending, that O'Brien was "a totally changed person" now. She came from a tragic background and was under the influence of drugs as well as pressure from others when the offence was committed.
Mr Flynn said his client was completely devoted to her child and her new boyfriend had guided her away from drugs. He was also treating the child fathered by a man who abandoned O'Brien as his own.
Del Garda Foley told Mr George Birmingham, prosecuting, that she posed as a prostitute in a conversation with a man who believed he was being offered sex. She got into his car and guided him to a car park near Baggot Street. Three men approached and hit him before taking his keys. O'Brien had left the scene at that stage.
The men overpowered the driver, bundled him into the back and, after picking up O'Brien and, another young woman, drove the car around the city, then to the Dublin mountains and back again.
Del Garda Foley said gardai became suspicious when the car was seen back in the city and ill was stopped. Some of the culprits ran off, but O'Brien and three others were arrested. She admitted her role immediately.
Judge Kelly directed an updated probation report for a further hearing of the case on April 28th, 1997.