A YOUNG mother who robbed a man at syringe-point after agreeing to have sex in his flat has had her sentence adjourned by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
"Sending this young woman to jail now would just visit on her eight-year-old daughter what was visited on her in childhood" said Judge Cyril Kelly.
The judge also directed that £250 which Sandra Gilsenan (26), of Waterloo Road, Dublin, had in court as compensation for her victim was not to be paid out to the man.
He ordered that the £250 be kept by Gilsenan's solicitor and used as recommended by the probation service for the defendant's daughter.
Judge Kelly noted from the probation report that Gilsenan had had little or no contact with her parents or siblings from early childhood. She had lived in homes and on the streets for most of her life and was pregnant at 18.
The one "good Samaritan" in her life died from cancer, and with her sister's approval her flat was assigned to Gilsenan, Judge Kelly observed.
Garda Des McHale said the victim met Gilsenan in the Hurlington Road area on the night of March 12th, 1996, and she agreed to go to his nearby flat to have sex for £80. When they got there she produced a syringe and took his wallet, which had about £260.
About two weeks later he met Gilsenan on the street and she apologised to him for her action. She was arrested for the robbery and confessed fully.
Garda McHale agreed with Mr Tom O'Connell, defending, that Gilsenan had a severe heroin problem and was suffering withdrawal symptoms when she committed the crime.
Judge Kelly ordered Gilsenan to accept treatment for her drug problem and abide by the directions of the Probation and Welfare Service.