Robber made threat to slit throat of ATM user in Kilkenny

A prolific criminal offender who threatened to slit the throat of an ATM user and demanded cash from him has been handed down a ten-month prison sentence.

Wayne McGrory, Good Shepherd Centre, Kilkenny appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Kilkenny District Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to the robbery charge.

Sergeant Morgan O'Connor told the court that on November 22, 2023 the defendant approached a male who was using the Bank of Ireland ATM on Parliament Street. The sergeant outlined how McGrory placed his arm around the male and placed an item to his neck.

"He said take out €200 or I will slit your throat," Sgt O'Connor told the court.

The male fought him off and the defendant was subsequently arrested and admitted the offence of robbery. The defendant told gardaí that the item he had placed to the male's neck was a cigarette lighter.

McGrory has 254 previous convictions including three for robbery, 11 for burglary and 38 previous convictions for theft.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said that his client wished to apologise to the court and to the injured party adding that he had recently come out of prison when he committed the robbery.

"He was addicted to crack cocaine and had a drugs debt at the time," said Mr Hogan adding that his client was also highly intoxicated.

"My client has made full admissions. He is aware that he needs to address his substance misuse issues and knows that if he doesn't address them there will be more prison or worse," said Mr Hogan.

Judge Carthy remarked that the facts outlined before the court were 'very serious' and imposed a ten month prison sentence and backdated it to November 23.