Addict who stole empty cash register jailed for three years

A drug addict who stole an empty cash register in an attempt to repay a debt has been jailed for three years.

Daryl Mooney (26) took a knife from his family home to rob the store where he ripped out a cash register that had not been in use, leaving the register containing cash behind.

Mooney, of Whitestown Park, Mulhuddart, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Whitestown Stores, Whitestown Avenue, Mulhuddart on October 7th, 2014.

Judge Melanie Greally noted Mooney had a difficult background and had responded to challenges in his life by abusing drugs. She said he was making efforts to address his issues.

Judge Greally imposed a four year sentence and suspended the final year. She ordered two years probation supervision.

Garda Niall Phelan told John Fitzgerald BL, prosecuting, that the sole staff member fled the shop after Mooney, who had his hoodie up and was armed with a knife, came behind the counter and demanded money. The staff member alerted the owner who rang gardaí­.

Mooney ripped a cash register out, cutting wires to remove it and brought the entire register with him. It cost the shop €1,000 to replace the register.

Gardaí­ acting on confidential information arrested Mooney later that day. He made full admissions and apologised for the offence, telling gardaí he had been under pressure to repay a €300 debt.

Garda Phelan agreed with Seoirse Ó Dunlaing BL, defending, that Mooney had not been waving or lunging with the knife and had been intoxicated when he was later arrested.

Mr Ó Dunlaing said Mooney’s drug use began following a family tragedy when he was 14 years old.

He said over the years Mooney had been getting straight custodial sentences with relatively little in terms of structure or incentive to stay on the straight and narrow. He sought to better himself in 2011 by going to residential drug treatment but relapsed into offending after the death of his brother.

Mr Ó Dunlaing said Mooney had gone “cold turkey” on his use of tablets and cocaine and was on a detox program for his heroin use.