Criminal with 156 convictions who used dog in violent robbery remanded on continuing bail

A 26-year-old man from Roscommon has pleaded guilty to his role in a violent robbery on Arran Quay in Dublin in June 2014. Patrick Conroy, with 156 previous convictions, was one of four men who approached a pedestrian and subjected him to robbery whilst using a growling Alsatian dog to intimidate the victim. The victim was threatened with physical violence, including being kneed and choked, before being robbed of his mobile phone, wallet and house keys. He sustained injuries to his lower back, neck and throat, and subsequently suffered psychological effects from the incident. CCTV footage placed Conroy in the vicinity at the time. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Conroy had been released on bail only days before the robbery occurred. Judge Pauline Codd remanded him on continuing bail pending a probation report and consideration of his admission to a residential drug treatment centre. Sentencing is scheduled for May 8th.