Men arrested drinking pints after robbing nearby bookies

An uncle and nephew who robbed a bookmakers shop were arrested shortly afterwards as they sat in a nearby pub drinking pints, a court has heard.

Owen Comerford (26) of Sean O'Casey Avenue, Summerhill, Dublin and his uncle Richard Comerford (53), of no fixed abode, both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of Boyle Sports, Capel Street on January 23rd, 2009.

Owen Comerford, who has 125 previous convictions, was sentenced to two years with the final 15 months suspended in January 2012 by Judge Martin Nolan.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring today sentenced Richard Comerford to five years with the final two suspended after she accepted that, although he had 66 previous convictions, he had not come to garda attention in the last three years apart from a minor begging offence.

She accepted that he seems to have turned a corner in his life and told Comerford “at 53 years old it is time for a rest”.

Garda Michael Galligan told Cathleen Noctor BL, prosecuting, that Richard Comerford was carrying an imitation firearm and both men were wearing balaclavas and latex gloves when they carried out the robbery.

Owen Comerford jumped over the counter and cleared out two cash registers while Richard waved the gun around at customers.

The pair then left and were spotted running into a bar on the same street by a witness who then rang the gardaí.

Garda Galligan said when the gardaí­ arrived into the pub the Comerfords were drinking pints. The pair were arrested and gardaí­ found the proceeds of the robbery, around €570, on Richard Comerford.

A bag with the gloves, a balaclava and clothing was recovered in the ladies’ bathrooms in the pub.