Addict robbed to repay drug barons

A CHRONIC drug addict was motivated to rob a clothing recycling store and threatened a member of staff in an attempt to repay “wicked drug barons” who wanted a debt repaid. Joseph Tobin, of Hogan Avenue, Kileely, was before judge Carroll Moran after he pleaded guilty to the robbery at the Clearout Clothing Store, on the Ennis Road on September 3 last year. 25-year–old Tobin said that he woke up on the morning in question, had a cup of tea, took some “up john90 tablets” for his breakfast before going out to get methadone for his partner, collect scrap and then go to the store where he committed the robbery.

Brian McInerney, counsel for the defence, said that his client was in a predicament where “the failure to repay this type of debt could see wicked and evil drug barons or their goons extract money or body parts as payment”.
Tobin was said to have had a screwdriver and although pleading guilty to the offence, he denied that it was a screwdriver.
It was said in evidence, put forward by John O’Sullivan prosecution for the State, that Tobin entered the store after 3pm on the day in question and had his face covered with a scarf and a hood over his head.
Tobin sought the whereabouts of another store worker before his scarf fell and revealed his face to the store worker. He then threatened the staff member before making off with €250 from the cash box.
The money, the court heard was used to pay off a debt owing for drugs.
Tobin, with a number of previous convictions including a three year sentence for an attack and robbery on Fr Edward Kirby at his home, has a number of previous convictions and was said to have had “one of the most dysfunctional upbringings you could imagine”.
After reading a hand written letter to the court, in which Tobin stated that “with the right help he could become a better person”, Judge Carroll Moran imposed a four year prison sentence and suspended the final year.