A chronic heroin addict who developed his habit from attending "raves" has been jailed for two years by Judge Dominic Lynch after being found guilty of robbing £210 from a fast-food restaurant. John Maher (29), of Mourne Road, Drimnagh, had been diagnosed as HIV positive and two of his brothers had died from AIDS, Mr Gerry O'Brien, defending, told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Det Garda Dermot Harrington told Mr Paul Coffey, prosecuting, that Maher jumped over the counter of the Abrakebabra restaurant in Donnybrook on May 19th, 1999, and grabbed the money while a co-accused held up three male staff with a syringe.