Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 29592Robbery; attempted robbery · Co. Dublin · 30 Dec 2019

Man sentenced for four robberies in Dublin

David Savage, a 29-year-old man, pleaded guilty to two attempted robberies and two robberies in Dublin in December 2019 and January 2020, including a Lidl robbery in Rathmines and an attempted robbery at Paddy Powers on Manor Street. He presented himself at Pearse Street Garda Station in February 2020 and was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in October 2021. Separately, an unnamed former garda from Leinster, in his 30s, pleaded guilty to trespass and assault causing harm for attacking his ex-partner in 2018 while on cocaine. He was sentenced to six months in prison with three months suspended by Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court on the same day, following a GSOC investigation.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Oct
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Savage pleaded guilty to two attempted robberies and one robbery in Dublin city centre on 30 December 2019, and a further robbery on 14 January 2020.
  • He attempted to rob Paddy Powers on Manor Street armed with an imitation firearm and wearing a skeleton mask, cycled to An Post on Ushers Quay, robbed a Lidl in Rathmines grabbing €1,765, and robbed a Burger King where the cashier backed off.
  • An unnamed former garda from Leinster, in his 30s, pleaded guilty to trespass and assault causing harm for attacking his ex-partner in 2018 while on cocaine, choking her and causing massive bruising and two broken fingers.
Where
The robberies took place in Dublin 7, Ushers Quay, and Rathmines.
When
  • The robbery incidents occurred on 30 December 2019 and 14 January 2020.
  • The assault incidents took place in 2018, with the second occurring nine months after the first.
Cause
Savage told gardaí he was using heroin daily and under pressure to pay a drug debt.
Investigation
  • Savage presented himself at Pearse Street Garda Station on 2 February 2020 and made full admissions after gardaí reviewed CCTV.
  • The former garda was prosecuted following an investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
In court
  • Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Savage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 October 2021.
  • Judge John Hughes ordered the former garda cannot be identified because the victim's children were witnesses.
Sentence
  • Savage was sentenced to five years in prison with the final year suspended.
  • The former garda was sentenced to six months in prison with three months suspended, plus conditions including probation supervision, addiction treatment, anger-management counselling, a €1,000 payment via GSOC, and a no-contact order.
Other details
Savage has nine previous convictions; the former garda had no prior criminal convictions and has left An Garda Síochána.
49 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSavage pleaded guilty to two attempted robberies and one robbery in the city centre on 30 December 2019. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatSavage pleaded guilty to a further robbery on 14 January 2020. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe fled empty handed after staff activated a panic alarm at Paddy Powers. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatSavage grabbed notes to the value of €1,765 from the Lidl till before running out. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe Burger King cashier backed off and let Savage take money. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe man pleaded guilty to trespass and assault causing harm at Dublin District Court. (rte.ie)
  • whatHe was a serving garda at the time of the assault. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe children tried to protect their mother by striking the accused with toy Power Ranger swords. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe woman and her children came home and found the accused asleep in the sitting room. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe accused pushed one of the children and cursed when a child tried to wake him. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe defendant attempted to wrestle the child to get an iPod. (rte.ie)
  • whatHe pushed the woman against a door with his elbow to her face and his hand on her neck. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe victim was choked and thought he was going to kill her. (rte.ie)
  • whatShe suffered massive bruising to her face and had two broken fingers. (rte.ie)
  • whatIn the second incident he banged on the door crying and screaming through the letterbox, then threw objects including car keys at the house. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe garda was 'off his face' on cocaine when he attacked his ex-partner. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe choked his former partner and she thought he was going to kill her. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe children tried to protect their mother using toy Power Ranger swords. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe accused pushed one child and cursed when the child tried to wake him. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereSavage attempted to rob Paddy Powers on Manor Street, Dublin 7, while armed with an imitation firearm and wearing a skeleton mask. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereFifteen minutes later Savage cycled to An Post on Ushers Quay and was unsuccessful in demanding money from the cashier. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereHalf an hour later Savage robbed a cashier at Lidl in Rathmines. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe former garda is from Leinster. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incidents occurred in 2018. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe second incident happened nine months after the first. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incidents took place in 2018. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeSavage told gardaí he was using heroin daily and was under pressure to pay a drug debt. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeHe was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the first incident. (rte.ie)
  • causeHis barrister said he had become addicted to codeine and cocaine and suffered from acute anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder. (rte.ie)
  • investigationSavage presented himself at Pearse Street Garda Station on 2 February 2020 and made full admissions. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí reviewed CCTV of the incidents and identified Savage as a suspect. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationHe was prosecuted following an investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. (rte.ie)
  • investigationInterviewed by GSOC, he initially denied inflicting injuries. (rte.ie)
  • investigationHe was prosecuted following an investigation by the Garda Ombudsman (Gsoc). (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Melanie Greally noted Savage comes from a respectable background and wishes to address his addiction. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge John Hughes ordered the former garda cannot be identified because the victim's children were witnesses. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Hughes said the defendant's status as a member of An Garda Síochána at the time was an aggravating factor. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to trespass and assault causing harm. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Hughes said being a member of An Garda Siochana at the time was an aggravating factor. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtBail was set at €500 in the event of an appeal. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to six months in prison with the final three months suspended on condition he keeps the peace and does not re-offend for two years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHe must remain under the supervision of the Probation Service, attend an approved addiction treatment centre and anger-management counselling. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay €1,000 via Gsoc to his former partner and have no contact with her unless he has a court order. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherSavage has nine previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherSavage had addresses at Navan Road, Dublin 7, and Belclare Way, Poppintree, Dublin 11. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe had no prior criminal convictions. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe has left An Garda Siochana since the incidents. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe initially denied inflicting injuries when interviewed by Gsoc. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe became addicted to codeine and cocaine and suffered from acute anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Oct2021
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Serving garda ‘off his face’ on cocaine when he tried to choke ex, court hears

    Details the full sentencing hearing including the judge's remarks on drug use permeating society, the victim's impact statement, the children's attempts to intervene with toy Power Ranger swords, and the conditions of the suspended portion of the sentence.

    accused, 30s, male, irishvictim, female
  2. 18 Oct2021
    Sentencedrte.ie, its first report
    Garda who tried to choke ex partner jailed for 3 months

    Sentencing report: the former garda received a six-month sentence with three months suspended, plus conditions including probation supervision, addiction treatment, anger-management counselling, education, a €1,000 payment via GSOC, and a no-contact order. The case was prosecuted by GSOC after an investigation.

    convicted, 30s, malevictim, female
  3. 18 Oct2021
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man who raided a supermarket with a toy gun given five-year sentence

    Reports the sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence (final year suspended) on David Savage for four robbery-related offences committed in December 2019 and January 2020, including a Lidl robbery in Rathmines with a toy gun and a Burger King robbery with a knife.

    convicted, David Savage, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Savagevictim, malevictim, male