A chronic heroin addict has been jailed for 11 years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the false imprisonment of a prison officer while using a syringe to threaten him.
Patrick Brazil (25), O'Devany Gardens, Dublin, was also jailed for 10 years by Judge Kieran O'Connor for the robbery of a video shop on Phibsboro Road on September 8th last year after he had been given early release from a previous 10-year sentence. The sentences will run concurrently with the 11 years to date from last January and the 10 years from October 2000. Judge O'Connor set a review date for June 2006.
Brazil pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment, attempting to escape from lawful custody, using the syringe to threaten, and to robbery.
Sgt Fergal Foley told Mr Garnet Orange, prosecuting, that on January 25th last, Brazil was being moved from Dublin District Court to Cork Prison and the prison vehicle pulled into a petrol station in Rathcoole on the way. While there, Brazil produced a syringe hidden in his groin area. He grabbed a prison officer and held the syringe to his throat.
The rest of the prison officers attempted to calm him down as he forced the prison officer out of the van and on to the station forecourt.
He dragged the officer around the courtyard as he attempted to hijack several cars. After a few failed attempts, Brazil ran into Rathcoole and was lost in a housing estate. Five days later, he was rearrested in Coolock.
Sgt Foley said it was believed Brazil was given the syringe while mingling with other prisoners in the holding cell area of the district courts at the Bridewell.
Brazil told Judge O'Connor he had been on heroin since he was 14 and had pleaded with the governor of Portlaoise prison, where he is now in custody, for treatment. However, Portlaoise has no methadone treatment, and he was now waiting to be transferred to Wheatfield.