TWO SOUTH county Dublin teenagers who robbed a pizza delivery man after placing a false order with a fast-food shop have been sentenced to a total of 5½ years by Judge Katherine Delahunt.
Gavin Ryan (19) of St Aubyns, Shanganagh Road, Shankhill, and Gene Barry (18) of Achill Road, Ballybrack, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing the man's mobile phone on August 19th, 2007.
Sgt Ronan Murphy told Ms Caroline Cummings, prosecuting, that when the man arrived at the delivery address and noticed that all the lights were out in the house, he called the phone number that had been given with the order but it was an unrecognised number.
Ryan then grabbed him from behind and wrapped his arm around his neck while Barry and two other youths ran at him. One of these three grabbed the pizza after Ryan put a knife to his throat.
Sgt Murphy said the victim struggled with the teenager but his assailant managed to push him into a corner. The victim then threw his phone away after Ryan demanded it off him.
Ryan then threatened to "stick the knife" into him if he did not hand over his money, but the man managed to push the weapon away from his throat and escape.
Both Barry and Ryan were identified as suspects and the delivery man's mobile phone was later found at the bottom of Ryan's bed.
Barry admitted he had snatched the pizza after it fell to the ground and told gardaí that when he saw his accomplice had a knife he left because "there was no way I was sticking around for that".
Judge Delahunt described it as "a horrific crime" when she adjourned the case last February to allow for updated probation reports.
She sentenced Ryan to three years in prison, the last nine months of which she suspended.
She described him as "the main player who had organised the robbery" and said he was "the aggressor in this violent attack".
Barry was sentenced to 2½ years with the last nine months suspended after the judge said she had taken into account his co-operation, remorse and the fact of his "low-level involvement in the crime".
Judge Delahunt ordered that the teenagers liaise with the probation service upon their release from prison and said she hoped this would be of assistance to them, taking into account the "significant social problems" that Barry in particular had experienced.
Sgt Murphy agreed with defence counsel Sandra Frayne that Barry had not been as involved in the robbery as Ryan.
He had no knife with him and the extent of his involvement was picking up the pizza from the ground.
Sgt Murphy accepted that Barry came from an unstable family. He also accepted that he had an alcohol problem as well as learning difficulties and was easily led.