Ireland Man jailed for hammer robbery at Kilkenny Post Office
On 12 September 2023, in the middle of the day, a man named as Stephen Clifford of Kilkenny robbed Kilkenny City post office, taking just over €1,700 and striking a customer in his late 20s with a hammer. Gardaí apprehended him as he made his getaway on nearby James Street, and he was convicted of robbery and assault causing harm after an early guilty plea. At Kilkenny Circuit Court, reported on 31 July 2024, he was given six and a half years for robbery, with the final two and a half suspended, and three and a half years for assault, with the final year and a half suspended. The sentence was reported as a four-year term in the article's lede, which does not reconcile with these detailed terms.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced2 Aug
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Just over €1,700 was taken in the robbery.
- Where
- The robbery took place at Kilkenny City post office on the high street.
- When
- The robbery took place in the middle of the day on 12 September 2023.
- Cause
- The court heard the man was stressed by a debt issue.
- Weapon
- The man wore a makeshift balaclava, held a hammer and struck a customer in his late 20s with it.
- Investigation
- Gardaí apprehended the man as he made his getaway on nearby James Street.
- Charges
- The man was convicted of robbery and assault causing harm.
- In court
- The sentence was handed down at Kilkenny Circuit Court and reported on 31 July 2024.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to six and a half years for robbery, with the final two and a half years suspended.
- He was given three and a half years for assault, with the final year and a half suspended.
- The article's lede gives a four-year sentence, which it does not reconcile with the detailed terms.
- Other details
- He entered an early guilty plea.
- He had 99 previous convictions over 23 years.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA total of just over €1,700 was taken. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whereThe robbery took place at Kilkenny City post office. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whenThe post office was robbed on September 12, last year, in the middle of the day. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- causeThe court heard the man was stressed by a debt issue. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- weaponThe man was holding a hammer and struck a customer with it. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationGardaí apprehended the man as he made his getaway on nearby James Street. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of robbery and assault causing harm. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for robbery, with the final two and a half years suspended. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceHe was given three and a half years in prison for assault, with the final year and a half suspended. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherHe entered an early guilty plea. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherHe had 99 previous convictions over 23 years. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherThe customer assaulted in the robbery was in his late 20s. (kilkennypeople.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Aug2024Man assaulted in hammer raid on Kilkenny Post Office
Sentencing report from Kilkenny Circuit Court. The article gives the robbery as September 12 'last year', which implies 2023. The lede says a four-year sentence, but the detailed terms are six and a half years for robbery (last two and a half suspended) and three and a half years for assault (last year and a half suspended). The article does not reconcile these.
convicted, Stephen Clifford, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Cliffordvictim, late 20s, malevictim