Ireland Man given suspended sentence over Clonsilla Spar robbery and dangerous driving
On the evening of 19 August 2018, Brian Darcy, then 17, wearing a balaclava, forced a staff member at a Spar shop in Clonsilla, west Dublin, to put cash and coins from the till into his bag, and he and another unnamed man got away with about €250. Gardaí chased the pair for nearly 20 minutes, during which Darcy drove the wrong way around two roundabouts. Darcy, now 22, pleaded guilty to aiding a robbery and two counts of dangerous driving, and Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to three years fully suspended and a three-year driving ban, with reports published on 26 and 27 July 2023. The judge described his behaviour as reprehensible but accepted he had stabilised his life.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced26 Jul
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Brian Darcy, wearing a balaclava, climbed onto a shop counter and forced a staff member to put cash and coins from the till into his bag.
- Darcy and another man, who is not named, got away with around €250.
- Gardaí chased the pair for nearly 20 minutes, during which Darcy drove at speed, overtook cars aggressively and drove the wrong way around two roundabouts.
- Where
- The robbery took place at a Spar shop in Clonsilla, west Dublin.
- When
- The offences took place on the evening of 19 August 2018, when Darcy was 17.
- Other details
- Darcy had near misses with other cars while fleeing officers.
- The court heard that Darcy had 43 convictions by the age of 20 and has since changed his life around while raising a young family.
- The judge described Darcy's behaviour as reprehensible but accepted he had stabilised his life.
- Charges
- Darcy pleaded guilty to aiding a robbery and two counts of dangerous driving; one report dates these pleas to 2018, while the other gives no plea date.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with reports published on 26 and 27 July 2023.
- Sentence
- Darcy was given a three-year fully suspended sentence and a three-year driving ban.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDarcy shouted at a shop staff member to put cash and coins from the till into his bag. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe pair got away with around €250. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatDarcy led gardaí on a chase for nearly 20 minutes and drove the wrong way around two roundabouts. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDarcy, wearing a balaclava, climbed onto the shop counter and forced a staff member to put cash and coins from the till into his bag. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí chased the pair for nearly 20 minutes. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatDarcy drove at speed, overtaking cars aggressively and driving the wrong way around two roundabouts. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe robbery took place at a Spar shop in Clonsilla, west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe robbery took place at a shop in west Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on the evening of 19 August 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident happened nearly five years before the article was published. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeDarcy pleaded guilty to aiding a robbery and two counts of dangerous driving. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDarcy pleaded guilty to aiding a robbery and two counts of dangerous driving in 2018. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceDarcy was given a three-year fully suspended sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDarcy was also given a three-year driving ban. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDarcy was sentenced to three years fully suspended and a three-year driving ban. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherDarcy had 43 convictions by the time he was 20. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherDarcy has changed his life around. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe judge described Darcy's behaviour as reprehensible but accepted he had stabilised his life. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Jul2023Man who drove at gardai during robbery walks free after 'stabilising' life
Reports the sentence (three years fully suspended, three-year driving ban) and the judge's remarks on Darcy's conduct and rehabilitation, for a robbery and chase that took place nearly five years earlier.
- 26 Jul2023Man who drove at gardai following robbery avoids jail after 'stabilising' life
Sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, nearly five years after the incident. The judge said Darcy had stabilised his life since, and the article covers his guilty pleas and sentence.
convicted, Brian Darcy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Darcy