Middle-aged grandfather who spent 27 years in jail sentenced to a further six years

A 48-year-old grandfather who has spent 27 years in prison has been jailed for a further six years for a post office robbery and the attempted robbery of a B&B in Dublin City.

Jason Fogarty, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of robbery at Merrion Row, Dublin on November 5, 2019 and one count of attempted robbery at Gardiner Place, Dublin on May 12, 2023.

He was on bail for the first offence when he committed the other. Additional counts of assault causing harm were taken into consideration.

Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Fogarty to four years for the 2019 post office robbery, during which he threatened the cashier that a grenade would be thrown into her home if anything went wrong. She sentenced him to a consecutive three years, with one suspended, for the attempted B&B raid in 2023.

Detective Garda Robert Mahoney said that on the day in question in November 2019, Fogarty entered a post office wearing a jacket, hat and gloves but his face was visible.

Fogarty approached the counter of the post office where one staff member was working. There was a protective screen separating the two. 

He passed her a note which told her it was a robbery and also produced what appeared to be a firearm wrapped in a white plastic bag.

The letter said that if anything went wrong: “There's another man at the door who will send a text and your home will have a grenade put in the window.” 

She opened the door and Fogarty came in. He took €7730 and £6000 from the tills and a safe before fleeing the post office. The staff member then pressed a panic alarm and gardaí were called. 

Gardaí identified Fogarty using CCTV from the post office and found €5730 wrapped in tin foil at his home the following day. The rest of the money was not recovered.

Fogarty initially denied that he was the person shown in the footage and said he had received the money as inheritance. However, the note handed in to the post office had his fingerprint on it.

Fogarty was charged in November 2019 and stayed in custody until March 2020 when he was released on compassionate grounds due to family difficulties. While on bail, he attempted another robbery of a B&B. 

Garda Darragh O'Connor told the court that at around 9pm on May 12, 2023, Fogarty entered the B&B wearing a medical mask around his chin and blue medical gloves. He approached a staff member who was working there and told him it was a robbery.

Fogarty said an air freshener he brought with him was filled with acid and that he would throw it in the man's face if he didn't open a safe. 

There was pushing and shoving between the two men which ultimately ended up with both of them grappling on the floor. Fogarty punched the man two or three times but was overpowered.

The staff member pushed Fogarty out of the building and locked the door behind him. Fogarty picked up a stool and smashed the glass door and came back in.

At that stage, the staff member told Fogarty the safe was locked with a code and that only the manager could open it. Fogarty then left.

Gardaí were called and they identified Fogarty again through the CCTV. They arrested him and he admitted the attempted robbery. During interview, he apologized and wished the staff member, “the very best for the future”.

The staff member told gardaí he had a chest injury and cuts to his hand. When he attended hospital days later, he found out his rib had been fractured.

Fogarty has 66 previous convictions, including for burglary, theft, robbery, public order, criminal damage and misuse of drugs.

Emer Ní Chúagáin BL, defending, told the court that Fogarty had significant difficulties from a young age and left school very early. “By 13, he was addicted to heroin,” she explained. 

“Mr Fogarty commits offences when in active addiction,” she said.

Judge Codd imposed four years for the post office robbery and three years for the B&B offence, both to run consecutively, but suspended the final year.