CITY MAN ESCAPES JAIL FOR KNIFEPOINT ROBBERY

Date Published: 15-Nov-2011

A 19-year-old city man who robbed his neighbour at knifepoint and stole two jeeps, has escaped a lengthy spell in prison because he turned himself in to Gardai and has since come off heroin.

Alex Cronin, has been ordered to live with his father at 47 Laurel Park, Newcastle, from now on, come under the care of the probation service for the next four years and avail of drug treatment as deemed necessary.

He’s been in custody since March and appeared before the court last Friday for sentence.

Cronin pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court in March to the robbery of 80 euro cash from a taxi driver at Newcastle, Galway on September 4th 2010.

He also pleaded guilty to burglary at a house at An Cualan, Ballybane on August 26th last year and to the theft of a jeep from outside the house on the same night.