A woman who pretended to be in distress produced a syringe and was joined by two male accomplices in robbing a motorist who allowed her into his car, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told.
Patrick Fagan (30), Wellington Street, Dublin, was jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to robbing £25 from the victim on October 3rd, 1996. Judge Cyril Kelly said he would review the sentence on January 18th, 1999.
Garda Edmund Corry told prosecuting counsel Mr Desmond Zaiden the motorist was stopped at traffic lights in Benburb Street, Dublin, when a young woman with long blonde hair knocked on the passenger door window in seeming distress. He allowed her into the car but two men also jumped into the back.
One of the men told him to drive to the Phoenix Park but he refused and drove past the Four Courts towards the city centre. The woman produced a syringe and demanded money. He handed over £25.
Garda Corry said the robbers were not satisfied and one of the men searched his pockets. They found his credit cards and told him to drive towards Dame Street to see if they could get more money with the cards. They had to stop at the lights at Chancery Place, beside the Four Courts but when the lights changed the motorist accelerated and braked suddenly to distract the gang while he tried to escape. Garda Corry said the motorist noticed the woman and her accomplices walk away from his car. He recovered it and drove to the Garda station. Witness went with him towards Christ Church and he arrested the three of them at Merchant's Quay Church.
Garda Corry said Fagan's accomplices had fled the State.