Raided three bookies taking almost €14k

A Cootehill man who raided three bookies in the space of a few months getting away with almost €14,000 in cash has been jailed for four years. John Masterson of Latsey, Canningstown, Cootehill, targeted two of Sean Shield's premises in Cootehill and Bailieboro as well as a Mac's Betting shop in Virginia. Cavan Circuit Court heard last week how he brandished a gun in the Virginia incident and demanded money from the safe. The defendant was sentenced to two years for stealing almost €8,000 from Sean Shields, bookmaker, Market Street, Cootehill, on March 1, 2009. He was given a concurrent two-year term for the raid on Mac's Betting, Cavan Road, Virginia, on April 5, 2009, in which €5,900 was taken. The defendant was given two years consecutive for the raid on Shield's premises at Main Street, Bailieboro, on June 13, 2009, in which €1,100 was taken. Judge John O'Hagan suspended the last six months of the second period. Garda Ronan Geraghty said on March 1 there was a burglary on Shield's premises in Cootehill and €7,450 in cash as well as a cheque for €436 were taken. Finger prints were taken and they were matched to the defendant. CCTV footage from a premises next door was examined and it showed two men breaking into the bookmakers. One of the men was the defendant. When interviewed he denied his involvement. On June 13 he entered Shield's in Bailieboro at about 8pm and demanded money from Ursula Sheridan and got about €1,100. He threatened her and demanded to know where the safe was. Ms Sheridan feared for her safety and she later identified Masterson in an identity parade of ten men. The defendant burst into Mac's Betting, Virginia, before noon on April 9, 2009, brandishing an imitation gun. Emma McDermott was working in the shop and he forced her to hand over money. He demanded to know where the safe was. There was another man standing in the doorway and a third man but Ms McDermott didn't notice him until later. One of them had a lump hammer. The defendant then jumped the counter and she gave him €4,000. They also got some loose cash and €5,900 was taken in total. CCTV was again examined and two of the raiders were identified. The defendant was later arrested. He was originally from Dublin and had 43 previous convictions. His family is now living outside Bailieboro. Judge O'Hagan said they were very serious matters. On three different occasions over a three-month period he committed one burglary and two robberies. In each incident a considerable amount of money was taken and never recovered. Staff in the bookmakers were threatened. "To give an idea how burglary is considered in the legal system it attracts a prison sentence of life as the maximum, while robbery has a maximum of 14 years," he said. When he brandished the imitation gun the staff didn't know it was imitation. This happened when the defendant was on bail to the earlier incident in Cootehill. However, he had to take into account his early plea and the fact he saved the state the expense of a trial. "If he had not pleaded guilty I would have sent him away for seven years." The defendant's parents and family were in court. "I'm afraid all their efforts have failed," said the judge. Judge O'Hagan had a duty to protect the public and bookmakers that they would not be subjected to this type of engagement again. "The only way I can deal with this is hand out a custodial punishment."