A man who attacked a 74-year-old woman with a syringe in an attempted robbery of a sweet shop was jailed for six years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Denis Bennett (24) of 10, Shangan Avenue, Ballymun, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to two syringe attacks and a robbery on April 10th and April 12th, 1999. He has a number of previous convictions.
Det Garda David Kemp of Ballymun Garda station told Mr Adrian Mannering, prosecuting, that Bennett attacked the woman in a Drumcondra shop. When he could not open the cash register he struck her a number of times. Bennett left with no money. He returned to the hackney cab which brought him to the shop and attacked the driver with the syringe.
Det Garda Kemp told Mr Mannering the third syringe attack occurred when Bennett stole £50 from a video shop on Lorcan Avenue, Santry.