A woman who attempted to rob two teenage girls and dragged one by the hair on O’Connell Street has been given a four-year prison sentence.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Lisa Joyce (38) of St Bridget’s Lawn, Porterstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery on O’Connell Street Upper on May 21th 2023.
She has 100 previous convictions, including convictions for assault, public order, criminal damage, theft, possession of a weapon and attempted robbery.
Passing the sentence on Friday, Judge Elma Sheahan said, “This is offending that every parent dreads happening to their children when they are given some freedom”. She noted Joyce has a very significant history of previous convictions.
Judge Sheahan noted that Joyce had lived on the streets and has lived a chaotic lifestyle. She further noted her poly-substance abuse.
Mid-level sentence
The judge said she placed this offence as a mid-level offence and set a headline sentence of five years.
She took into count a number of mitigating factors including the early guilty plea, the value of this plea in saving young teenagers from having to go through the court process and the shame and remorse that Joyce has shown.
Judge Sheahan sentenced Joyce to four years in prison on each count to run concurrently. She said that having considered all matters, the court was of the view not to suspend any portion of the sentence but she backdated it from when Joyce went into custody.
Garda Michael Murphy told Caroline Cummings, BL, prosecuting, that on the day in question, the two girls, then aged 13 and 14, went into Dublin city centre to go shopping.
The girls, who are cousins, finished their shopping by 1pm and went to a bus stop on O’Connell Street to wait for a bus. They were sitting on the ground when they were approached by Joyce. She indicated to them she was homeless and asked them for a euro.
Gda Murphy said Joyce commented that the girls had not even checked their purses and attempted to take one of the girl's mobile phones.
The teenager managed to hold onto her phone. Joyce then moved close and grabbed the second teenager by the hair. The teenager described to gardaí being pulled by her hair on the ground.
Joyce let go after a few seconds, and both teenagers ran away in the opposite direction.
CCTV
On arriving home, one of the girls told her mother and the gardaí were called. CCTV footage was obtained, and the girls gave a description of Joyce to the gardaí. The CCTV footage was played to the court.
Joyce was identified and arrested. During her interview, she indicated she was on tablets, drinking and taking crack cocaine. She did express some disgust for her behaviour. Joyce also claimed not to have a memory of the incident.
Gda Murphy agreed with Aoife McNickle BL, defending, that her client was in an intoxicated state when brought to Store Street garda station. He further agreed that Joyce said she has very little memory of the incident and the detention.
The garda agreed with counsel that Joyce told gardai during her detention period that she suffered from depression.
Ms McNickle said her client understands how bad this was and that the two young girls were subjected to this in the middle of the day on their way home.
She said that from the outset, her client has fully and unreservedly accepted what had happened and is remorseful. She said Joyce had received her social welfare and blew it on crack cocaine.
Joyce fully accepts the evidence even though she can't remember the incident, counsel said. Letters were handed into the court from Joyce, her brother and the governor of the prison, which outlined she is now an enhanced prisoner.
