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A MAN WHO was on bail for robbery when he knocked an 89-year-old woman to the ground and stole her handbag has been jailed for six years.
Nina MacAuley (89) had just left a hairdressers in Dublin city centre when she was “bashed” into by David Allen (35) who knocked her to the ground.
Mrs MacAuley banged her head and suffered cuts to her head and arm. She found herself lying on the ground “with tears running down her face” when she realised her handbag was gone.
Allen of no fixed abode and formerly of Rathangan Road, Monasterevin, Co Kildare pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Aungier Street, Dublin, on 1 July 2019.
He also pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of a 73-year-old taxi driver at James Street, Dublin on 5 February 2019. His 25 previous convictions include attempted robbery, burglary and theft.
Passing sentence today, Judge Melanie Greally said the offences were serious incidents and involved injured parties of advanced age. She noted that Allen suffered from severe addiction issues and was someone who had a very difficult early life.
Judge Greally sentenced Allen to three years imprisonment for the earlier robbery and sentenced him to five years imprisonment for the robbery.
She ordered that both sentences run consecutive to each other for an effective sentence of eight years imprisonment. She then suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions including that he follow all directions of the Probation Service for 12 months post release.
In her victim impact statement, which was read out in court at a previous sentencing hearing, Nina MacAuley said her nieces bring her to the hairdresser now when in the past she was happy to walk. She said she had trouble sleeping after the incident.
“Why should the likes of him do that to the likes of me? He wouldn’t do it to a strong man.
“I am proud to reach this age but I am sad to say it makes me an easier target,” she said.
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I couldn’t care less about his addiction issues, he’s just an excuse of a human that should rot in that cell
@john murphy: addictions and bad up bringing should have nothing to do with any sentence, you shouldn’t be allowed to bring it up as a defence, herself had a bad up bringing but she carved out a better life for herself, then somehow got stuck with me lol
@Martin Harte:
Personally I do see the reasons for leniency for people of difficult upbringing in bad situations. But that should only apply for a first non-violent offence, after 25 f&&&&king convictions we have to acknowledge that he’s just made a decision to be a sc&&&mbag, there’s no rehabilitating him.
Surely this old lady should be allowed sue the state for her injuries as it is obvious this man should not have been out on bail.This would make judges think twice about lenient sentences
@Terry O Shea: sue the judge, not the state. Then they’d think twice about being so soft.
@Terry O Shea: very good idea after a couple of payouts the judges would have to do the right thing.
@john s: if the judges had all the bad guys in prison what would they do????? Sad but true they need these guys to justify their posistion.
@Derek Trotter: I wish u were wrong but the legal gravy train won’t stop
@Terry O Shea: Yes I agree Terry, maybe some legal eagle could even say if that is possible or not. I am pretty sure you cannot take a case against the judge himself/herself but why not take a case against the state. We must do something about this ourselves as the state does not give a fiddlers as evidenced by their track record over the last 20 years. Is there a source for relevant facts such as how many prison places do we have, how many do we need, what is the re-offending rate etc. Also is the 80k a year per prisoner cost high or low compared to other countries and if high is that the real reason the state will not commit to building prisons. The criminals, like the politicians, if there is no consequences for one’s actions some will do what they like.
There are a lot of people who have bad earlier life’s and are well behaved. It’s should never be a mitigation factor.
25 previous convictions. Yet commits an armed robbery, robs this old lady and is gonna be walking the streets again in 4yrs ? DPP needs to appeal this buIIshit sentence.
@Tommy Roche: Exactly 25 previous convictions and still he allowed to roam free and rob and assault a defenseless old lady. The system has failed her. Judges in Ireland are failing its citizens , Do we need new legislation to keep f###ers like this off the street or what? Does anyone here have some good legal insight into this matter?
Why not, say, 37 years?
The useless piece of @hit… throw away the key.
@Rory Murphy: 100% Rory. 25 previous convictions tells you all you need to know about our justice system. I’m sure he had addiction issues & a tough early life when committing his earlier crimes too. Just keep letting them out until they kill someone sure. An independent elderly lady’s life ruined by yet another scrote. Pathetic.
@Rory Murphy: the criminal or the judge?
Slap on the wrist. Will he do even 30 months?
Being a pathetic loser that got himself addicted to drugs shouldn’t be a reason to receive pity from judges.
@Peter Denham: hear hear
I can’t understand why this thing is referred to as a “Man” in the headline. “Feral savage” would have been far more appropriate.
Not enough.
Was he related to the judge ?
Filth
Sued state means – we tax payers will pay for this
Not happy with it
@Rafal Kostrz: so you would prefer to see old ladies been mugged by someone should be behind bars ???
And the violins are still playing in the background, ‚very hard early life‘ sob sob, severe addiction issues, sob sob, pathetic excuse of a human being feeling sorry for himself, lock him up and throw away the keys
Glad for the (please insert the derogatory word of your choice in here ****)
Hopefully he gets a good bashing in jail.
No harm
Misleading headline, he got 3 years. I don’t care how they twist and mangle with it. A suspended sentence is not a prison sentence, and two 3 year sentences should not be run consecutively.
At least he’s getting a prison sentence, but after 25 convictions there’s no excuse for going soft on him ffs.
@:
Whoops, I read “consecutive” as concurrent, since usually that’s the story. Good on the judge so, and accurate headline after all
He had 25 previous convictions, attacked elderly people, and was on bail, and only got 6 years. He will be out to prey on more old people in three years. This is not justice, and does not protect our citizens!
10 year stretch minimum
You put me in a room with that piece of human waste, I’ll see he never pulls that stunt again.but knowing the Irish justice he get out in a year.
I would love if the Judge in this case could explain the logic behind suspending the final 2 years of the 8 year sentence especially when she made the 5 and 3 year sentences to run “Consecutively”!!!!
But folks, just look at the benefit that this piece of manure has been to the legal profession for the last number of years! If he’s locked up for too long it’s like killing the “goose that lays the golden egg”. Never be under any illusion as to why these criminals are let out, or why they receive such short sentences.
I hope they gut him in jail!
I understand all the comments made regarding this man his crimes and his sentence. As for all the colourful names and suggestions as to what would be good for him I’m not so sure. Before I get hung drawn and quartered as a bleeding liberal
I’m inner city born and reared never seen the inside of a Garda station let alone a court room.
But I have seen what addiction can do to ANYBODY and how powerless family and friends can be, so be careful about how we judge anybody.
Yes he does deserve his sentence and that lady deserves her justice
After 25 previous convictions away past time been locked up and thrown away the key. Getting out after 4 years just beats Banagher. Our legal system needs a complete cleaning out it stinks to the core with corrupt dishonest money grabbing solicitors / barristers, where there is seldom any losers, all protected by the Law Societies & Bar Councils of Ireland.
O
Hopefully the lads locked up with him might give him a seen too
Excuses excuses excuses. Poor upbringing devoid of self awareness because no one loves me. Do yourself a favour
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