A man who robbed a BoyleSports in Ennis wearing a balaclava and wielding a knife has pleaded guilty to a separate robbing spree.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Dylan Considine Kelly (23) of no-fixed abode has pleaded guilty to four separate robberies in Bunratty and Ennis.
In March, Judge Francis Comerford at Ennis Circuit Court imposed a two year prison term suspending the final 12 months on the cocaine addict after he made away with €265 in cash from a BoyleSports outlet on the eastern outskirts of Ennis on April 5th 2022.
Now, Mr Considine Kelly along with another man, Andrew Price (40) has pleaded guilty to a spate of robberies in the Bunratty and Ennis areas across a number of days last October.
Both men – who had an address of Laurel Lodge, Ennis, at the time of the robbing spree- have pleaded guilty to robbing on October 14th, Tim Crowe’s shop at Minister’s Cross, Bunratty of €500 in cash and €800 cigarettes.
Both have also pleaded guilty to on October 20th robbing Bar One Racing, Turnpike Rd, Ennis of €2,340.
Both have also pleaded guilty to robbing Tim Crowe’s shop, Minister’s Cross, Bunratty of €500 in cash and €900 in cigarettes on October 24th last.
Mr Considine Kelly pleaded guilty to a fourth charge on October 21st at Tim Crowe’s Gala shop, The Green, Sixmilebridge of robbing €400 in cash.
The two men are currently in custody where Mr Considine Kelly is serving the sentence for the BoyeSports robbery.
At the time of his sentencing in March, Mr Considine Kelly had no previous convictions for this type of criminal behaviour.
In relation to the Boylesports robbery, counsel for Mr Considine Kelly, Patrick Whyms BL (instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) told the court in March that his client carried out the crime to pay off a drugs debt.
Mr Whyms said that at the time Mr Considine Kelly was spending €500 per week to finance his cocaine addiction and his legitimate weekly income totalled €129.
Mr Whyms stated that Mr Considine Kelly indicated the night of the robbery he handed over the €265 to people he owed for drugs.
Det Sgt Noelle Bergin said that at Garda interview concerning the Boylesports robbery, Mr Considine Kelly said that he felt terrible and sorry for his actions.
Det Sgt Bergin stated that Mr Considine Kelly was “very remorseful and couldn’t believe he could wave the knife like that and put the man in fear”.
Mr Whyms stated that Mr Considine Kelly’s descent into very poor behaviour was as a result of desperation for money for drugs.
He said that Mr Considine Kelly’s motivations were from his financial difficulties from drug taking.
Mr Whyms said that his client “had no intention to harm anyone”.
Mr Whyms stated that his client is “very remorseful” and “is very sorry for what he has done”.
Judge Comerford has adjourned the cases against both men to May 10th to fix a date for sentence and has ordered victim impact reports.
