Armed robber who subjected Limerick staff to ‘terrifying experience’ is jailed
The Polish accused admitted his intention in discharging the airgun was to create panic in the store on Cruises Street, Limerick city
AN ARMED robber who fired a shot over the heads of two staff members to create “panic”, which the judge described as a “terrifying experience”, has been jailed for eight years.
Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan said the accused - David Pejas, aged 33, of no fixed abode “is somewhat volatile and unhinged with a propensity for extreme violence”. The court heard he sleeps with a gun by his side.
“There is appropriate concern for the safety of others,” said Mr O’Sullivan BL. Detective Garda Enda Clifford, one of the investigating officers, agreed with counsel. Judge Colin Daly spoke of “security considerations” if there had been a trial.
Pejas appeared in court via video-link from prison. He was escorted by a prison officer in full riot gear.
Mr O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court last month with the assistance of Det Garda Clifford.
Pejas pleaded guilty to a total of five charges - having a firearm with intent to commit robbery, robbery and reckless discharge of a firearm at CEX Electronics, Cruises Street on April 8, 2024.
Pejas also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances at Ballycasey Court, Shannon on April 12, 2024. They are airguns designed to resemble Heckler and Koch USP and CZ 75 P-07 semi-automatic pistols.
Judge Daly put back sentencing for two weeks to consider the sentence. He summarised the evidence before giving his decision last week.
Judge Daly said at around 10.15am on April 8, 2024, two customers and another man, who turned out to be the accused, entered the shop. “The other customers left and Mr Pejas remained. He went to the counter where the iPhones were displayed and mumbled something in what appeared to be a foreign language to the female staff member. The male employee offered his assistance.
“Mr Pejas produced a gun and pointed it at the staff. The female employee told gardai she thought she would be ‘killed’. Mr Pejas discharged a shot at a TV behind the two staff members.
“He shouted ‘give me phones’ and threatened to shoot the staff. He also demanded charging cables and cash. He was given a sum of cash from the till. The staff members were highly traumatised from this event,” said Judge Daly.
Gardai commenced an investigation and CCTV was harvested which showed Pejas going to Shannon in a taxi after the robbery in Limerick city.
“Mr Pejas was identified as a suspect and gardai carried out surveillance. They obtained and executed a search warrant at his residence in Ballycasey Court with the assistance of the Armed Support Unit. They had to breach five doors as they had resistance bands attached.
“Tasers, flashbangs (stun grenades) and pepper spray were required to be deployed such was the resistance offered by Mr Pejas,” said Judge Daly.
The judge said gardai recovered the two stolen iPhones and two airguns designed to resemble semi-automatic weapons, one of which was fired in the shop.
Judge Daly said Pejas made full and frank admissions during garda interviews, admitted he discharged the airgun and that he was “desperate” as he was homeless and had no job.
Pejas told gardai that “when he is desperate he has to do a robbery”.
“He discharged the firearm, shooting the TV behind the two staff members. Mr Pejas admits his intention in discharging the airgun was to create panic and make the staff more likely to comply with his demands
“This must have been a terrifying experience for the staff members to experience, not just to be held up but to experience the discharge of a firearm,” said Judge Daly.
In determining the sentence, Judge Daly also took into consideration the “extraordinary measures An Garda Siochana were required to take to arrest him” and Pejas’ seven previous convictions for robbery and theft.
Judge Daly also noted that Pejas declined to apologise to the staff members when interviewed by gardai.
In mitigation, the judge placed particular emphasis on Pejas’ early plea of guilty which prevented a trial and “security considerations that might have been raised at a trial”.
Judge Daly said Pejas assisted gardai and has a work history in Ireland and Poland.
An apology from Pejas made through his barrister, Lorcan Connolly SC, “must be contrasted with his assessment of his actions on staff during garda interviews”, said Judge Daly.
The judge imposed eight year jail terms on each of four charges - having a firearm with intent to commit robbery, robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances. A four year sentence was handed down for discharging a firearm which carries a maximum of seven years. They are all to be served concurrently.
Judge Daly granted a forfeiture and destruction order regarding the firearms.