Garda convicted of attempted armed robbery.

GalwayKiefer · 05-03-2011 03:37AM #1

"A garda with a chronic drink problem who lost his job after attempting to rob a shop with an imitation firearm has been given a three-year suspended jail term."

Link to article:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0304/boersmam.html

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Article for those on mobile boards:

A garda with a chronic drink problem who lost his job after attempting to rob a shop with an imitation firearm has been given a three-year suspended jail term.
Mario Boersma, 39, had pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery of Kilmoney Stores in Carrigaline and possession of an imitation firearm on March 27th 2010.
Today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Detective Sergeant David Treacy told how Boersma went into the shop wearing a hoodie and a woollen hat pulled down like a balaclava and armed with a gun.
Boersma demanded money from a female member of staff and at first she thought it was a joke but when he again demanded money, she ducked behind the counter and closed the till.
Boersma fled on foot but the woman contacted both the gardaí and the owner of the store, Brian Hurley, who spotted a man emerging from some bushes 300m from the shop.
Mr Hurley lost sight of the man at Fernlea in Carrigaline but he identified the man to gardaí a short time when he spotted him walking at Fernlea with a woman and gardaí arrested him.
Gardaí had already recovered a holdall with a woollen hat and hoodie top from the bushes where the man had been seen and he later told them that he had also hidden the gun there.
Det Sgt Treacy told how when gardaí went back and searched the bushes again as Boersma had told them, they found the handgun which turned out to be an imitation firearm.
Boersma made immediate admissions and fully co-operated with gardaí and apologised for his actions and the upset and trauma he had caused the shop assistant, he said.
Boersma, with an address at Rosebay Drive, Forest Hill, Carrigaline, was a serving member of the gardaí based in Celbridge, Co Kildare, but was absent without leave for five months.
Det Sgt Treacy said Boersma had had a chronic alcohol problem for years and although he attended a treatment centre in Bruree, Co Limerick, before Christmas, he was unfortunately drinking again.
The court heard a victim impact statement from the shop assistant who said that she did not bear Boersma any ill-feeling and hoped he would get help for his alcoholism.
The woman said that she felt sorry for Boersma - who is separated - and said she did not believe that sending him to prison was the answer.

Det Sgt Treacy agreed with defence barrister, Donal O'Sullivan, BL, that the robbery was an act of desperation and Boersma had now lost everything including his job in the gardaí.
The court heard that Boersma's home had been repossessed and he was on the verge of having his car repossessed, said Mr O'Sullivan who pleaded for leniency for his client.
He pointed out that he had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and was genuinely remorseful while Boersma as a former garda would find prison life difficult.
Judge Con Murphy accepted Boersma's early plea and he accepted that as a former garda going to prison, he could find himself in situations with people he may have prosecuted.
He said Boersma was 'little more than a child' in his approach to the robbery and he noted that he had co-operated fully with gardaí and assisted them in their investigation.
He said that taking everything into account, he believed the appropriate sentence was three years but he suspended it on condition Boersma keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
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I'm not interested in his problems, in the same way I'm never interested in the problems of convicted criminals (drink and drunks/broken home/bla bla bla) in so far as sentencing is concerned. A member of An Garda Síochána (at the time anyway) has been convicted of attempted armed robbery with an imitation firearm and walks with a three year suspended sentence. I realise what prison would be like for him if he wasn't put in protective custody and that he co-operated once caught but what message does this send out to people? One law for us and one for them?

I doubt I would have walked from the courthouse with a suspended sentence. Am I alone in my cynicism?

orourkeda · 05-03-2011 03:40AM

I thought he'd be an assistant commissioner by now

Senna · 05-03-2011 03:42AM

Opened this thread thinking, please dont let it be another Donegal guard story

seanybiker · 05-03-2011 03:44AM

nice one for posting the thing for us mobile users. First time I noticed someone doing that. I'm welling up now .

Poor Mario. Guess his life went down the drain

newmug · 05-03-2011 03:56AM

Its disgusting. He should have been done for armed robbery, 10 years min. He was even on the news peddling his sob story. If the new govt are going to change things and be as anti-corruption biased as they said they would be before the election, then this fella should be behind bars.

Yakult · 05-03-2011 04:05AM

Loved the sob story when I saw it on the news, cringe worthy.

Cool_CM · 05-03-2011 04:18AM

That shop is tiny and literally sells milk, bread, papers and cigarettes to the people who live in the park around it. No wonder she thought it was a joke when somebody came in looking to rob the place

karlog · 05-03-2011 04:34AM

Sure it was the drink that made him do it. Alcohol should get 10 years minimum for that.

Oranage2 · 05-03-2011 04:48AM

Irish courts are like an X-Factor audition - The sadder the story the less likely you'll do time

for example -

Free legal aid -Johno has 34 previous convictions but has finally beat his drug problem for the last week and thinks going to prison will set back his progress

Judge - Well Johno you're finally getting you act together so no punishment but this will be your last chance!!!

chicken fingers · 05-03-2011 05:06AM

aww he was little more than a child was he?
Imitation handgun and spare set of clothes stashed in a bag show premeditation and planning. Just because he is stupid doesnt mean he shouldnt be locked up for a few years. Same as any other criminal.
Oh, wait, he might have trouble from other criminals because he is an ex-garda?
Lots of criminals have co-operated with gardai in the past and still ended up in prison.
The modus operandi is to stick them in solitary or move them to a different location if there is a threat against them. With an ex-gardai it seems you just get off.

jimmycrackcorm · 05-03-2011 05:25AM

Well, it will make for an interesting theme for new games on the Nintendo DS.

MagicSean · 05-03-2011 09:25AM

Same sentence anyone would have gotten. First conviction, guilty plea, substance abuse problem, remorseful. The fact that he was a Garda is probably why the judge didn't just give him probation.

GalwayKiefer · 05-03-2011 09:32AM

k_mac wrote: »

Same sentence anyone would have gotten. First conviction, guilty plea, substance abuse problem, remorseful. The fact that he was a Garda is probably why the judge didn't just give him probation.

That'd be true in an assault case but this was an attempted armed robbery.

MagicSean · 05-03-2011 09:41AM

GalKiefer wrote: »

That'd be true in an assault case but this was an attempted armed robbery.

I've seen it before. Attempted robbery with a starter pistol. Probation and a good behaviour bond.

Bosco boy · 05-03-2011 11:08AM

I think he should have been sacraficed in the name of everyone who ever got a speeding ticket and feels disgruntled towards the guards, they want their pound of flesh regardless. There was a bin man up last week for the same thing and he also got a suspended sentence, i was livid cause the fcukers didnt empty my bin last week! Theres no justice in this country!

pragmatic1 · 05-03-2011 11:15AM

k_mac wrote: »

I've seen it before. Attempted robbery with a starter pistol. Probation and a good behaviour bond.

I agree. I actually know a lad who was done for armed robbery with a real shotgun. He was then done for small time dealing when he was waiting for trial on the first charge. He got off on probation, I kid you not.

MardiB · 05-03-2011 11:22AM

Don't be so harsh, he was found guilty alright but the sentence was suspended. He is an alcoholic who lost his house, his marriage, his career and now has a prison record. He is not exactly living the dream....

letsbehonest · 05-03-2011 11:40AM

He is only human.
The man clearly has problems and we here know nothing about him or what he has being through in his life. He went down the wrong path and now he has lost his job and his reputation.

xoxyx · 05-03-2011 12:22PM

I'd like to think that his suspended sentence was given on the condition that he attends treatment for his alcoholism and, even better, presents himself on a weekly basis for tests to ensure he isn't drinking.

I feel for him as I believe alcoholism is half disease. However, I also believe it's half indulgence (and I know what I'm talking about here). Fair enough - it's hard for him to have this compulsion to drink, but it was hard on the shop assistant that he held up. If he doesn't stop drinking then this situation could occur again, but next time, somebody could get hurt.

In deciding his sentence, his personal circumstances should be taken into account, but so should the risk he poses to society.

bonerm · 05-03-2011 12:55PM

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Well, it will make for an interesting theme for new games on the Nintendo DS.

Super' Mario Muggers.

MagicMarker · 05-03-2011 12:56PM

So he's not a Garda then?

irish pavee · 05-03-2011 12:57PM

GalKiefer wrote: »

"A garda with a chronic drink problem who lost his job after attempting to rob a shop with an imitation firearm has been given a three-year suspended jail term."

Link to article:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0304/boersmam.html

_________________________________________________________________
Article for those on mobile boards:

A garda with a chronic drink problem who lost his job after attempting to rob a shop with an imitation firearm has been given a three-year suspended jail term.
Mario Boersma, 39, had pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery of Kilmoney Stores in Carrigaline and possession of an imitation firearm on March 27th 2010.
Today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Detective Sergeant David Treacy told how Boersma went into the shop wearing a hoodie and a woollen hat pulled down like a balaclava and armed with a gun.
Boersma demanded money from a female member of staff and at first she thought it was a joke but when he again demanded money, she ducked behind the counter and closed the till.
Boersma fled on foot but the woman contacted both the gardaí and the owner of the store, Brian Hurley, who spotted a man emerging from some bushes 300m from the shop.
Mr Hurley lost sight of the man at Fernlea in Carrigaline but he identified the man to gardaí a short time when he spotted him walking at Fernlea with a woman and gardaí arrested him.
Gardaí had already recovered a holdall with a woollen hat and hoodie top from the bushes where the man had been seen and he later told them that he had also hidden the gun there.
Det Sgt Treacy told how when gardaí went back and searched the bushes again as Boersma had told them, they found the handgun which turned out to be an imitation firearm.
Boersma made immediate admissions and fully co-operated with gardaí and apologised for his actions and the upset and trauma he had caused the shop assistant, he said.
Boersma, with an address at Rosebay Drive, Forest Hill, Carrigaline, was a serving member of the gardaí based in Celbridge, Co Kildare, but was absent without leave for five months.
Det Sgt Treacy said Boersma had had a chronic alcohol problem for years and although he attended a treatment centre in Bruree, Co Limerick, before Christmas, he was unfortunately drinking again.
The court heard a victim impact statement from the shop assistant who said that she did not bear Boersma any ill-feeling and hoped he would get help for his alcoholism.
The woman said that she felt sorry for Boersma - who is separated - and said she did not believe that sending him to prison was the answer.

Det Sgt Treacy agreed with defence barrister, Donal O'Sullivan, BL, that the robbery was an act of desperation and Boersma had now lost everything including his job in the gardaí.
The court heard that Boersma's home had been repossessed and he was on the verge of having his car repossessed, said Mr O'Sullivan who pleaded for leniency for his client.
He pointed out that he had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and was genuinely remorseful while Boersma as a former garda would find prison life difficult.
Judge Con Murphy accepted Boersma's early plea and he accepted that as a former garda going to prison, he could find himself in situations with people he may have prosecuted.
He said Boersma was 'little more than a child' in his approach to the robbery and he noted that he had co-operated fully with gardaí and assisted them in their investigation.
He said that taking everything into account, he believed the appropriate sentence was three years but he suspended it on condition Boersma keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
_________________________________________________________________

I'm not interested in his problems, in the same way I'm never interested in the problems of convicted criminals (drink and drunks/broken home/bla bla bla) in so far as sentencing is concerned. A member of An Garda Síochána (at the time anyway) has been convicted of attempted armed robbery with an imitation firearm and walks with a three year suspended sentence. I realise what prison would be like for him if he wasn't put in protective custody and that he co-operated once caught but what message does this send out to people? One law for us and one for them?

I doubt I would have walked from the courthouse with a suspended sentence. Am I alone in my cynicism?

gards hur

lcrcboy · 05-03-2011 01:04PM

any normal person who pulled a stunt like that would be in prison but that fella gets a suspended sentence typical of the corruption in this country

pragmatic1 · 05-03-2011 01:09PM

lcrcboy wrote: »

any normal person who pulled a stunt like that would be in prison but that fella gets a suspended sentence typical of the corruption in this country

Nah thats not ture man. I know a lad who done a few armed robberies with real guns and he got probation. It all depends on the mood of the judge.

bonerm · 05-03-2011 01:10PM

Do we have a special wing for convicted gardai? I can't imagine they'd have much fun in with the "ordinary decent criminals".

irish pavee · 05-03-2011 01:41PM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Nah thats not ture man. I know a lad who done a few armed robberies with real guns and he got probation. It all depends on the mood of the judge.

was he a gard

letsbehonest · 05-03-2011 02:08PM

lcrcboy wrote: »

any normal person who pulled a stunt like that would be in prison but that fella gets a suspended sentence typical of the corruption in this country

I know of two cases in my local town one of which a man went into a petrol station with a knife and stole about 1000 he got a 6 moth suspended sentence.
another is of a guy who went into our local post office and demanded money with a hammer. He then broke the glass in a door leading behind the counter and stole 2500 grand. In court he was basically told to pay for the door. If this man wasn't a guard we wouldn't even be talking about it here.

EGAR · 05-03-2011 03:48PM

Does one still get jail for non-payment of TV licence?

Bosco boy · 05-03-2011 06:32PM

EGAR wrote: »

Does one still get jail for non-payment of TV licence?

No one gets jail directly for not paying a tv licence, they get a fine in the court and if they dont pay the fine then it turns into a penal warrant for the same amount. The warrant is sent to the gardai for execution and if they fail to pay the amount the do the specified time in jail instead. They have plenty time to pay the fines and are not landed in jail straight from court. Many have plenty money but dont want to pay for anything and thats their biggest problem. Then they ring joe duffy and whinge to the nation as if it came out of the blue!

EGAR · 05-03-2011 07:11PM

:rolleyes:

pragmatic1 · 05-03-2011 07:22PM

irish pavee wrote: »

was he a gard

Nope. Hes a little scummy shyte.

Garda convicted of attempted armed robbery.

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