Drug addict jailed for her role in violent robberies and assaults

A Dublin city centre drug addict has been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in a violent robbery and assault…

A Dublin city centre drug addict has been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in a violent robbery and assault in Blackrock Park.

Rachel Hogan (20), Railway Street, held a broken bottle to a teenager's neck to force her to hand over money, a mobile phone and her MP3 player. Hogan pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Walton, robbing Leticia Martin of a mobile phone and robbing Lisa Seavers of a mobile phone, MP3 player and cash at Blackrock Park, Co Dublin, in March 2005.

A bench warrant was issued for her accomplice, Gerard Cully (20), Casement Grove, Finglas, who failed to appear for sentence.

Seán Gillane, defending, said what happened to the young students was inexcusable. He said Hogan was a drug addict, and mother of a young child, who had now severed her ties with Cully.

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Judge Katherine Delahunt imposed concurrent sentences of three years for assault, suspending the last 18 months; three years for robbing Ms Seavers, suspending the last 18 months; and two years for robbing Ms Martin, suspending the last six months.

Garda Lucy Grimes told Garnet Orange, prosecuting, that four school students - Mr Walton, his girlfriend Ms Seavers, his cousin Éamonn Walton and Ms Martin - were approached by Hogan and two men in Blackrock Park.

One of the men asked Brian Walton if he had any hash and then grabbed him. Éamonn Walton jumped up but was stopped by the other smaller man and they began throwing punches.

Éamonn Walton saw Hogan take two phones from the girls and kick Brian Walton in the face. He was holding the smaller man in a headlock but was threatened with glass and kicked in the head by Hogan, forcing him to let go.

Ms Seavers said Hogan held a broken bottle to her neck, forcing her to hand over her money and mobile phone. She then saw her MP3 player and pushed the glass further into her neck. Hogan then went over to Brian Walton and slashed his back with the glass.

Garda Grimes said the four friends eventually got away and rang gardaí. The others were quickly apprehended.