This article is from page 4 of the 2013-06-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A MAN who used a knife and a hatchet to rob shops in Ennis over a two-day period last February has received a three-year prison sentence.
Robbie Nestor (32), described in court as a chronic heroin addict, was sentenced after pleading guilty last October to robbery and unlawful possession of weapons, at Liddy’s Costcutter, Mill Road, Ennis and Lynch’s Centra, Gort Road, Ennis.
Mr Nestor, with an address at 142 Hermitage, Ennis, appeared before Clare Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
The court heard that on February 11 (2012), the accused entered Liddy’s Costcutter carrying a black butcher’s knife. Garda William Deleaney told the court that after demanding staff open the till, Mr Nestor made off with € 450.
Mr Nestor was captured on CCTV entering and leaving the premises. He was recognised by a witness after a red scarf used by Mr Nestor to conceal his identity, slipped from his face.
Two days later, the court heard, Mr Nestor was one of two people that entered a petrol kiosk at Lynch’s Centra. Mr Nestor was carrying a hatchet and the other man had a hammer. The court heard that € 1300 was taken during the robbery.
No prosecution was brought against the other man involved in the robbery, the court heard.
Garda Delaney said Mr Nestor was arrested on February 17 and made full admissions.
He added, “He held up his hands completely and apologised.”
Garda Delaney told the court that Mr Nestor has a long running heroin addiction and robberies like this are committed to “fuel his habit.” Mr Nestor has 35 previous convictions.
Barrister Mark Nicholas BL told the court that his client used the stolen money to purchase heroin in Limerick.
He said Mr Nestor is currently drug free and recently underwent a rigorous rehabilitation course in Dublin.
Mr Nicholas added, “If you could extract the addiction he would be a very good member of society.”
Judge Carol Moran said Mr Nestor had a “very bad record”.
On the robbery charges, he imposed two concurrent five-year sentences. He suspended the final two years of the sentence on condition Mr Nestor enter a bond to be of good behaviour.
The two counts of unlawful weapon possession were taken into consideration.