A building society manager thought he was going to be shot when a raider pointed a humane killer at him and threatened him and his staff, a court heard yesterday.
James Kavanagh (36), of Meath Place, Rialto, Dublin, pleaded guilty in Cork Circuit Criminal Court to robbing the Educational Building Society, Douglas, Cork, of £2,865 on July 4th, 1997.
Det Sgt Tim O'Sullivan said Kavanagh was a member of a gang which robbed the society. He produced a humane killer, which was a dangerous weapon, and terrorised the manager, Mr David Power, and his staff.
The gang escaped in a car which was stolen in Dublin the previous day. They had stayed overnight in a house provided by an accomplice. After the robbery, the gang returned to Dublin.
Kavanagh, who had 39 previous convictions, including three for armed robbery, was arrested the following September.
The court heard that he was HIV positive and in poor health. He had a 14-year-old son and was the eldest of a family of 10.
Judge Patrick Moran said there was no medical evidence before the court indicating Kavanagh's condition. He sentenced him to five years, saying he would review the case if his health deteriorated.