Tipperary 'serial offender' avoids additional jail time

A SERIAL offender who robbed  cash, cigarettes and a bottle of whiskey from an off-licence Limerick city centre has avoided additional jail time despite committing the offence while on bail.

Roger Ryan, aged 40, who has an address at Lake Road Halting Site, Tipperary Town admitted his role in the robbery which happened at Fine Wines, Roches Street on June 26, 2016.

Limerick Circuit Court heard the defendant and another man entered the premises at around 6.30pm and proceeded to threaten a member of staff with glass bottle before taking around €350 in cash and the other items.

The defendant, who has more than 90 previous convictions, was identified on CCTV and made admissions following his arrest.

Imposing sentence, Judge Tom O’Donnell said the threat of violence made against an “easy target in a very vulnerable position” was an aggravating factor as was Ryan’s previous record.

He said he accepted the offence was spontaneous and not premeditated and that the defendant is genuinely remorseful.

While noting he has difficult personal circumstances and faces “serious challenges in life”, Judge O’Donnell commented that staff in off-licences and members of the public are entitled to be protected.

Noting that Ryan is currently serving a number of lengthy prison sentences relating to separate offences in County Tipperary, the judge said he had to be conscious of principle of proportionality.

He imposed a three year prison sentence which is to be served consecutively to the sentences he is currently serving.

However, the full sentence was sentenced for a period of six years.