Man jailed for three and a half years for robbing ice-cream parlour in Ranelagh
Carl McGuinness, a 31-year-old man from Finglas East, Dublin, was sentenced on 17 June 2026 to three years and six months in prison for robbing an ice-cream parlour in Ranelagh, Dublin, on the evening of 11 February 2025. He told the shop manager to open the till, banged a hammer on the counter, then leaned across to open it himself, accidentally triggering the panic alarm before grabbing her iPhone 13 and escaping on a bike. Gardai tracked him down using the phone's 'find my phone' feature, and the iPhone and hammer were recovered when he was searched. He pleaded guilty to robbery at the Criminal Courts of Justice, where Judge Orla Crowe imposed the consecutive sentence, noting his 117 previous convictions and that he was on bail at the time of the offence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced17 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- McGuinness told the shop manager to open the till, banged a hammer on the counter, then leaned across to open it himself, accidentally triggering the panic alarm before grabbing her iPhone 13 and escaping on a bike.
- Where
- The robbery took place at an ice-cream parlour in Ranelagh, Dublin.
- When
- The robbery occurred on the evening of 11 February 2025.
- Cause
- McGuinness said he had a drug problem and took the phone to sell it to buy crack cocaine.
- Weapon
- He carried a hammer during the robbery.
- Investigation
- Garda used the 'find my phone' feature to track McGuinness, and the iPhone and hammer were found on him when he was searched.
- Charges
- McGuinness came forward from the District Court on a signed guilty plea to robbery.
- In court
- Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 17 June 2026.
- Sentence
- Judge Crowe imposed three years and six months, consecutive to part of his existing nine-year global sentence for vehicle-related offences.
- Other details
- Carl McGuinness, 31, is from Beneavin Road, Finglas East, Dublin 11, and had 117 previous convictions including three for burglary, one for robbery, two for theft, two for assault and two for attempted robbery.
- He was on bail at the time of the offence, made full admissions, identified himself on CCTV, and apologised to the woman.
- The phone was returned to the woman, who declined to provide a victim impact statement, and there was no physical contact between McGuinness and her.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMcGuinness accidentally triggered the panic alarm while trying to open the till. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe robbery took place at an ice-cream parlour in Ranelagh, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMcGuinness is from Beneavin Road, Finglas East, Dublin 11. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe robbery occurred on the evening of 11 February 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMcGuinness said he had a drug problem and took the phone to sell it to buy crack cocaine. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe iPhone and the hammer were found on McGuinness when he was searched. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe came forward from the District Court on a signed guilty plea to robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe is currently serving a nine-year sentence imposed in March for vehicle-related offences between August 2024 and May 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Crowe imposed a sentence of three years and six months, consecutive to part of his existing global sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCarl McGuinness had 117 previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe phone was returned to the woman, who declined to provide a victim impact statement. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGuinness made full admissions and identified himself on CCTV. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis previous convictions include three for burglary, one for robbery, two for theft, two for assault and two for attempted robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was on bail at the time of the offence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThere was no physical contact between McGuinness and the woman, but she was very scared. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGuinness was co-operative with the investigation, apologised to the woman, and has experienced homelessness. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jun2026Gardai nabbed iPhone thief with 117 convictions by using 'find my phone' app
Full details of the robbery, the use of 'find my phone' to locate the suspect, his 117 previous convictions, and the consecutive sentence imposed by Judge Orla Crowe.
victim, femaleconvicted, Carl McGuinness, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Carl McGuinness