Gambling addict who robbed from Carlow bookmakers said money “rightfully” his
A retired fireman who robbed just over €12,000 from a Carlow bookmakers because he believed the money was “rightfully” his has been given a four year suspended sentence.
Des Hanley (63) a self-proclaimed chronic gambling addict, told gardaí he had previously lost over €50,000 on three separate occasion through bets he made in Boyle Sports in Sandhills, Carlow.
Hanley told gardaí, following his ultimate arrest, that he believed that Boyle Sports should not have taken the bets from him because of his addiction.
He said he was aware that the shop would have had a large amount of money on the premises that day because it was the day of The Grand National and none of the favourites on the day had won.
Hanley told gardaí he believed the money he had taken was rightfully his.
Hanley of The Willows, Pollerton, Carlow, pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and possession of a firearm with criminal intent at Boyle Sports, Sandhills, Carlow on April 9, 2022. He has previous convictions for theft and minor road traffic offences.
Detective Garda Dave McGrath told Stephen Montgomery BL, prosecuting that the day of the robbery was the day of The Grand National and as such a lot of cash would have been on the premises.
Hanley came into the shop with his face covered and carrying what was described as an old western style gun – it was a long barrel shot gun.
He approached the cashier, pointed the gun at him and demanded cash. The staff member opened the safe and handed over €12,400 before Hanley took it and walked out of the store.
Det Gda McGrath said Hanley was immediately recognised as he was a regular customer at the shop. He had been in the shop the previous week with the staff member when he was very upset over a gambling debt.
Hanley was also nominated as a suspect after gardaí viewed footage of the raid. Officers also looked at footage from the general area and traced Hanley back to his home.
A warrant was secured to search Hanley’s home during which they found the bag of money, the face covering Hanley had been wearing during the robbery and the gun.
Hanley was arrested and interviewed twice in Carlow Garda Station. He said he had lost so much money in Boyle Sports, telling gardaí he lost €15,000, €26,000 and €9,000. He described himself as a chronic gambling addict.
Hanley told gardaí that he believed that Boyle Sports should not have taken the bet from him. He was aware that the shop would have had a large amount of money on the premises because none of the favourites in The Grand National had won.
Det Gda McGrath said Hanley said he had drink taken before the robbery to give himself “Dutch courage”. He expressed remorse.
A victim impact statement from the staff member said he has never been so scared in his entire life. He said he thought Hanley was going to shoot him and thought he was going to die. He said he felt so helpless.
He has since experienced panic attacks. “That night is always there in my head,” he continued.
The man said he has since seen Hanley walking in the local area and he had to change direction to protect himself from feeling scared.
He said he doesn’t think he will ever get over it. He said he doesn’t feel safe in his own home or own home town.
“One movement of that finger and I would not be here the next day,” the man stated in his victim impact statement.
Det Gda McGrath agreed with John Madden BL defending that his client was immediately recognised as he was a regular customer in the shop.
He further agreed that the revolver was found to be in “an extremely bad condition” and a ballistic expert concluded that it would not discharge ammunition. There were also no bullets in the gun.
Hanley told gardaí it was “an old gun that had been dug up from someone’s back garden”.
Det Gda McGrath accepted that Hanley lost a significant amount of money in Boyle Sports previously and that he “felt the money was his”.
Mr Madden said his client served in the fire service for 35 years. He was retired two years at the time of the robbery.
Counsel submitted to the court that the firearm was in poor condition and could be described as more of “a curiosity or an antique”.
Mr Madden said his client was distressed by the amount of money he had lost through bets he placed in Boyle Sports.
He said his client has early onset dementia. His marriage has broken down and his daughter was in court to support him.
Mr Madden said his client “walks with a limp” which was due to an injury from his work in the fire service but it had been exacerbated by a subsequent fall.
Counsel said his client’s mental health has deteriorated and he has been diagnosed as having emotional unstable personality disorder which was exacerbated by his heavy drinking.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly said Hanley resented Boyle Sports. He said Hanley believed that as a gambling addict he should not have been allowed to gamble there.
“But it is a matter for the gambler to decide whether or not to gamble, not to put a gun in the face of an employee and demand money be returned to him” Judge O’Kelly said
He accepted that Hanley had early onset dementia but said that is of “little consolation for the victim who was simply trying to do his work”, Judge O’Kelly said before he added that the victim did not know that the gun could not be fired.
“The victim did not have the opportunity the ballistic expert had to examine the gun to see if it could be fired,” the judge continued.
He accepted that all the money was recovered before he set a headline sentence of six years.
Judge O’Kelly took into account the mitigating features in the case which he said included his plea of guilty.
He noted that Hanley had received a large pension but the judge said that it seems that Hanley lost all of that money in Boyle Sports.
Judge O’Kelly imposed a sentence of four years in prison which he suspended in full on strict conditions including that he remain under the supervision of The Probation Service for two years.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
