A chronic alcoholic who staggered up with his accomplice to a security van a second too late to rob a big cash collection has been given a chance by Judge Elizabeth Dunne to sort himself out.
Paul Corrigan (31), of Millbrook Avenue, Kilbarrack, Dublin, smashed a hammer against the window of the Brinks Allied security van but the head of the hammer flew off. Corrigan fled, dumping his mask and the hammer in a skip.
He was arrested 30 minutes later with a flagon of cider in his hand and admitted he had intended to rob the van because he needed the money for drink.
Corrigan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having a weapon at Kilbarrack Industrial Estate with intent to rob on July 2nd, 2001.
Det Garda Dan Quinlan was praised by Judge Dunne for what she called his "great compassion" in driving Corrigan to his first appointment in the Stanhope Street alcohol abuse treatment centre.
Judge Dunne said the case merited a custodial sentence but in view of all the evidence she was willing to give him a chance to show he was making a genuine effort to turn his life around.
"Alternatively, if he prefers, I can give him a long custodial sentence," she said and remanded him on continuing bail to October 10th.
Det Garda Quinlan told prosecuting counsel Ms Marie Torrens that Corrigan and his accomplice had followed the Brinks security man who collected the cash from the Iarnród Éireann station at Howth Junction and walked to the van.
They arrived just a second after the money was deposited in the van.
Video and personal identification showed they were staggering, and Corrigan said after his arrest that he was out of his mind with drink.
Det Garda Quinlan agreed with defence counsel Mr Cormac Quinn that Corrigan began drinking heavily when his father died eight years ago.
His parents were both alcoholics and his brother died three weeks ago due to drug abuse.
Mr Quinn said the court should give Corrigan this one chance to sort himself out. He was the father of two children by his former partner, who trusted him to remain sober while he looked after them.