'Don't be a hero, I'll f***ing kill you' addict tells cash handler during Luas stop robbery

Declan Brennan

A drug addict told a Brinks cash handler “don't be a hero, I'll fucking kill you” during a robbery at a Luas stop, a court has heard.

Gary Quinn (32) was on bail when he came up to the victim while he was changing out the coins and notes from a ticket machine at Fatima Luas stop in south Dublin.

At the sentencing hearing on Thursday in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Mark O'Reilly told Aoife McNickle BL, prosecuting, that the robbery took place shortly after midday on August 7th last year (2025). The victim had already changed the coin box and was pulling out the note box when Quinn came up to him and grabbed the note box.

The victim later told gardaí that he initially thought it was a joke and he went to grab the box back.

At this point, the robber told him “don't be a hero, I'll f**king kill you”. The victim wasn't sure if the man was armed or not but was in fear for his life.

He didn't resist and Quinn, who was on a push bike for the entire incident, cycled off. Gardaí identified Quinn from CCTV footage and arrested him a few weeks later.

Quinn admitted carrying out the robbery. He told gardaí that he was struggling with a severe drug addiction at the time and apologised for his actions and the impact on the victim.

Ms McNickle told Judge Orla Crowe that the victim had not completed a victim impact report but that he has been “on and off” in work.

Gda O'Reilly told the court that Quinn's 108 previous convictions include four robberies, six for drug dealing and convictions for false imprisonment and firearm offences. He was out on bail for another offence at the time of this robbery and is now serving a four-month sentence.

Quinn of St Theresas Gardens, Dublin pleaded guilty last November to robbery on August 7th, 2025.

Luigi Rea BL, defending, said his client's life was blighted by drug addiction from a very young age. He said Quinn has some history of work, including as a scaffolder.

He said all of his client's criminal offending is linked to his drug addiction.

Judge Crowe said this must have been deeply frightening for the injured party. She noted that Quinn apologised to gardaí for his actions and has also written a letter of apology to the court.

She imposed a custodial sentence of two and a half years.