A BANK robber with what a detective described as a religious fixation" has been jailed for 11 years. Michael Ormond has already served two sentences of five years imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 1985 and 1990 for armed robbery. He had 21 previous convictions.
Judge Michael Moriarty heard Det Garda Sean McAvinchey describe how gardai chased Ormond down O'Connell Street Dublin and into Clerys department store.
The detective said he had his official handgun drawn as Ormond pointed what proved to be a very realistic looking imitation firearm at gardai.
A woman teller from the Bank of Ireland had to be transferred from O'Connell Street to another branch as a result of the trauma she suffered when Ormond held the weapon to her ear and she heard the trigger click.
Ormond (30), of Mourne Road, Dublin pleaded guilty to armed robbery at the Bank of Ireland on July 24th, 1995. He also admitted attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to rob Church Street post office on July 3rd, 1995.
Judge Moriarty said his crimes were of "catastrophic dimensions". Either of them could have had horrifying consequences.
The bank official's trauma had been appalling. She had a gun placed to her ear and the trigger squeezed. "One can scarcely visualise a more catastrophic and terror filled event for anyone.
Judge Moriarty praised Del Garda McAvinchey for arresting Ormond in a situation of great risk to the public.
He noted that Ormond had been born when both his parents were only 14 years old and he had been in prison for most of his life. The court had a duty to protect the public and he imposed concurrent sentences of 11 years on each of the three offences.
Ms Marie Trens defending, said Ormond was remorseful and had an insight into the harm he had caused. He had been diagnosed as possibly suffering from HIV dementia, a depression brought on by the virus, which had been diagnosed in 1985. There were also signs of schizophrenia.
Det Garda McAvinchey told prosecuting counsel Mr Tom O'Connell that a teller had noticed Ormond acting suspiciously in a queue, and pushed an alarm button to alert gardai. Detectives arrived quickly just after Ormond had pulled the teller to the ground and ordered staff to put money into his pockets and a bag.
Ormond emerged with money falling from his pockets. He refused to stop when challenged and a three minute chase ended with him being grounded and arrested in Clerys.
Det Garda McAvinchey agreed with Ms Torrens that her client had a religious fixation. "Religion preys on his mind 23 hours a day"," said the detective. He found it difficult to deal with the public when released from prison.
Det Garda Enda Moote said that in the post office offence, Ormond held an imitation gun to the head of a young American student and threatened to shoot her.