Four years’ jail threat hanging over teen who pulled knife

A Christmas present in the form of a four-year prison sentence awaits a Salthill teenager if he does not comply fully with the directions of the probation service and his father between now and next December.

Ryan McNamara (18), with a former address at 23 Fana Burca, Knocknacarra, pulled a knife on a now former friend and refused to give him back his €500 phone.

McNamara pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court in May to the robbery of the Samsung Galaxy Mega Smart phone from the other youth at Ball Alley Lane, Eyre Square, on November 1 last year.

He also admitted producing a knife while committing the robbery.

Garda Shane Travers told the sentence hearing last week that the victim, who was from Oranmore, knew McNamara and lent him his phone.

When he returned to the accused a short time later, McNamara pulled a knife and refused to give him back his phone.

Garda Travers found McNamara who denied any involvement.

A search of his person later revealed a knife concealed in his tracksuit waistband and the phone in his pocket.

Defence barrister, John Hogan said his client was only 18 and had no previous convictions.

He had been led astray by other youngsters and had an issue with alcohol which needed to be addressed.

Mr Hogan conceded his client’s engagement with the probation service in the past had been patchy and it had taken this incident – where he was now looking at a lengthy prison sentence – to make him realise he needed to engage with the service and make changes in his life.

Judge Rory McCabe said the concern here was that a teenager was armed with a knife.

Mr Hogan said his client was under the misconception he needed to carry a knife for his own safety while in Galway.

Judge McCabe told McNamara the offence of robbery carried a maximum sentence of life in prison and this offence merited a four-year sentence.

He agreed however, following further submissions from Mr Hogan, to put a stay on the sentence until December to give McNamara a opportunity to reengage with the probation service in a meaningful way, abstain from alcohol, stay away from the Knocknacarra area and go live with his father in Ballinderreen.

“The extent to which the four-year sentence will be reduced or increased will depend on how he behaves in the meantime.”