A HEROIN addict who took part in armed robberies which netted almost £70,000 has been jailed for 10 years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Three of the robberies were at the head office of the Football Association of Ireland on the day of a European Championship match in 1994, at Portmarnock Dunnes Stores and Ballygall Credit Union, both last year.
The defendant, Joseph Morrison, needed up to £150 daily to feed his addiction, the court was told.
Judge Michael Moriarty said Morrison had failed to take an earlier chance and he had to impose a severe sentence or the law would appear irresolute.
He said that on a previous occasion, favourable reports and Garda evidence had persuaded him to release Morrison after one year of a four year robbery sentence. At the time he appeared to be on the road to reform.
A sad factor was that Morrison was an intelligent person who generated a degree of affection in gardai, probation officers and others who dealt with him, Judge Moriarty added.
Morrison (31), a father of one, of Ballygall Parade, Finglas, Dublin admitted his role in the robbery of £24,000 cash from the FAI, Merrion Square, Dublin and the false imprisonment of staff member, Ms Elizabeth Fitzmaurice, some hours before the Ireland Liechenstein match at Lansdowne Road on October 12th, 1994.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing more than £20,500 from Ballygall Credit Union on May 5th, and about £25,000 from Dunnes Stores on October 26th, 1995.
Prior to the imposition of sentence, Mr Anthony Sammon, defending, said Morrison wanted to serve his sentence in the Mountjoy drug free unit which the Minister for Justice had announced. He asked for the suspension of any sentence to leave his client a "carrot" as an incentive to stay off drugs.