Hi °C | Lo °C A MOTHER OF THREE who robbed a taxi driver with a syringe after he spurned her sexual advances has been sentenced to five years with the final two suspended.
Mary Ward (30) offered sex to the driver for money. When he declined she robbed him.
Ward, of Nelson Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of Declan Byrne and threatening him with a syringe at Blackhall Place and the attempted robbery of Sean McGarby at a Spar shop in Inchicore on August 27, 2011.
Detective Garda Barry Hayes told prosecuting counsel Noel Devitt that at 11.20 that morning Mr Byrne picked up a group of people including Ward in his taxi. He dropped off everyone except Ward who asked to go on to St James Hospital.
After Mr Byrne ignored her offers to perform sexual acts for money, Ward took out a blood-filled syringe, told him she had Aids and demanded money from him.
He told her he kept his money in the boot and as they both went to the back of the car he grabbed Ward by the wrist.
She got free and fled before getting into another taxi nearby. Again she took out the syringe and demanded money. The driver handed over €40 and she demanded his phone so she could make a call. She then made him take her to an ATM in a shop so he could withdraw more cash.
In the shop she told him to withdraw €500. However he managed to run behind a door and close it behind him causing her to flee. Gardai arrived and traced the last called number on the driver's phone to a house in Rialto.
They arrived at the house and found Ward there with the syringe. She made full admissions in interview.
She has 34 previous convictions including prostitution, drug possession and theft. She has three children who live with her mother.
hnews@herald.ie
