Man gets five years for tying up and robbing students

A man who subjected two students to an hour-long ordeal in which they were tied up and robbed in their own apartment has received…

A man who subjected two students to an hour-long ordeal in which they were tied up and robbed in their own apartment has received a five-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Darren Coleman (28), Croke Villas, Ballybough, a father of four, pleaded guilty to robbery, two counts of false imprisonment and car theft at Clifden Court apartments on Ellis Quay, Dublin, on May 30th, 2003.

The students had been celebrating the end of their exams on the night of the robbery and both have since abandoned their studies in Dublin as a result.

Det Garda Frank Tracey told Orla Crowe prosecuting, that Jim Grimison and Phillip McDonagh were celebrating in the city centre on the evening of May 29th, 2003.

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They met and fell into conversation with two women around the Westmoreland Street area in the early hours of the morning and invited the women back to Mr Grimison's apartment on Ellis Quay.

During the walk towards the apartment, the women fell behind the students and made contact with Coleman and another man who were following. Upon arrival at the apartment, the women left the doors to the building and the apartment ajar so Coleman and his accomplice could later enter.

The raiders burst into the apartment after a short time and the women left as they began their attack.

Mr McDonagh was hit in the face, pinned to the ground and bound hand and foot with torn- up bed sheets. A curtain was placed over him for the hour that the raiders remained in the apartment.

Mr McDonagh was in fear of his life and believed he would be killed. The raiders demanded pin numbers for the victims' mobile phone and bank cards.

Mr Grimison, a diabetic, felt a metal object he believed to be a gun being placed to his head and he heard one of the men shout "just shoot him". He was then tied up and locked in a wardrobe.

After one hour the victims heard Mr McDonagh's car being driven away at speed. Mr McDonagh was able to free himself and alert gardaí.

Coleman and his accomplice took mobile phones, bank cards, wallets and the keys to Mr McDonagh's car, which was later set alight by Coleman's accomplice.

Mr Grimison, originally from Dublin, now lives in America and was unwilling to return to the jurisdiction to provide a victim impact report.

Mr McDonagh, from the midlands, gave up his chance to follow a career in Dublin as he was frightened of working in the city and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Coleman's accomplice, George Murray (27), Drumheath Grove, Mulhuddart, was jailed for five years in May 2005.

The two women, Edel McCormack (26), Kilmore West, Coolock, and Elaine Wheelock (22), Sean O'Casey Avenue, Dublin, were last year ordered to perform community service.

Judge Bryan McMahon suspended the final year of the sentence on condition that Coleman undergo a drug treatment programme upon his release.

Coleman was also sentenced to serve a concurrent six-month sentence for a burglary he committed in Dublin city centre on October 18th, 2003. He has 12 previous convictions and had earlier served five years for robbery.