Published: Wednesday, 4th August, 2010 5:00pm

Robbed Cara pharmacy with claw hammer

Two young female staff members of a Cavan pharmacy were terrified by a man wearing a face mask and holding a claw hammer who demanded tablets and made off with €800 cash.

Judge John O'Hagan, at Cavan Circuit Court, sentenced the man, Brendan Duffy, 13, Upper Jervis Street, Dublin 1, to three years' imprisonment for the theft of the money and one year to run concurrently for having the claw hammer in the commissioning of the offence.

The defendant, a heroin addict, who was stated to be drug free, had 38 previous convictions.

Garda Gerard Queenan stated that on the afternoon of July 16, gardaí received a report of a robbery at Cara Pharmacy in Cavan. They arrived at the scene at 5.15pm and met two members of the staff in a distressed state. They said a male entered the shop wearing a hard hat and a dust mask. He had a claw hammer in his hand. He demanded drugs and when they told him that they couldn't give him any because they didn't have access, he demanded cash from the till. He took over €800. One of the girls attempted to use a mobile phone to raise the alarm but the defendant took it off her. Once he got the cash, the man left on foot. Garda Queenan said that investigations established the identity of the culprit and on February 2 they obtained a warrant to search his home in Virginia. Witness went to the house and at 7.10pm arrested the defendant and took him to Cavan Garda station. During the course of interviews Brendan Duffy made full admissions, stated witness.

Ms Monica Lalor, for the DPP, quoting from the defendant's statement said it was Mr. Duffy's intention to steal tablets from the pharmacy. He told the staff he wanted tablets. He lifted the claw hammer but he wasn't going to hit the girls with it. He afterwards went to Dublin with the stolen money and bought a tablets.

Ms Lalor said Brendan Duffy had 38 previous convictions, the last in November 2006 for a similar offence. He was a native of Dublin but lived in Virginia. He was a heroin addict but drug free at the minute.

Garda Queenan said both the girls employed in the pharmacy (aged 18 and 19) were terrified by the ordeal.

Counsel for the defendant said Brendan Duffy was originally from Finglas. A brother died when he was eight and he had a difficult childhood. His father had an alcohol problem and when his parents separated he went to live with his grandmother. He currently had a good relationship with his family and had an eight-year-old daughter, whom he sees at weekends. He had taken positive steps to address his addiction, including participation in radio programmes highlighting the dangers of drugs. He had applied for a place with the Peter McVerry Trust and had been in a relationship with his partner for a number of years. His daughter is from a previous relationship.

Counsel submitted that Duffy's personal circumstances had changed since the offence and urged the court to impose community service. However, Judge John O'Hagan said Brendan Duffy had a terrible record and the offences for which he was before the court were serious. On the date concerned Miss Rowen and Miss Maguire went to work not knowing that they would have to experience such trauma. The defendant had targeted the pharmacy in order to satisfy his drug addiction. He put on a helmet and was wearing a balaclava to cover his face. He used the hammer to threaten the girls and how were they to know whether he would use it.

Judge O'Hagan accepted that the defendant pleaded guilty and said if he had not, and been convicted, he would be facing a sentence of six years in prison.

The judge sentenced Brendan Duffy to three years' imprisonment on the charge of stealing €800 from Alison Rowen and Sinead Maguire, who were employed by Canice McNicholas, Cara Pharmacy, and of stealing a mobile phone on the occasion. On the charge of being in possession of the claw hammer used in connection with the robbery, he sentenced the defendant to one year in prison.