A LIMERICKMAN who was twice caught with quantities of heroin in his possession and then, while on bail, acted as a lookout during the robbery of a city off- licence, has been sentenced to a total of four years in jail for all three offences.
27-year-old Ross Cantillon with addresses at Abbeyvale, Corbally; Castleview Apartments, Broad Street and formally of St Mary’s Park,
was before Limerick Circuit Court after he was arrested, charged and sent forward for trial on all matters earlier this year. Cantillon, the court heard, acted as a lookout for another man during the robbery at Coasters off-licence at St John’s Square in early February of this year. Judge Carroll Moran was told that the accused held the door of the off licence while a second man stole €360 from the till and a bottle of Bacardi rum.
During the incident, Cantillon told his accomplice to “stab” the assistant during the robbery. He was also before the court on two counts of the possession of heroin to the value of over €2,200 in March and June of last year.
Judge Carroll Moran said that Cantillon was the lessor of the two accused involved, but that he was “lucky” not to receive a five year prison sentence for the robbery.
Previous convictions were read to the court, including one in January 2003 relating to a 12 year prison sentence imposed, the last five of which were suspended, for the possession and discharge of a Kalashnikov rifle and 22 rounds of ammunition in Moyross in a gang related incident. Details of the period of suspension could not be confirmed to the court so Cantillon, received the “benefit of the doubt” and the suspended part of the 2003 sentence was not imposed by the judge.
In his sentencing Ross Cantillon, Judge Carroll Moran told the sitting of the Circuit Court that the accused was a heroin addict and thus effectively rendered homeless through his actions.
The fact that Cantillon was on bail at the time of the Coasters robbery, meant he was “at law,” and thus a consecutive sentence was mandatory.
For the two counts of possession of heroin for sale or supply, Cantillon received two sentences of two years to run concurrently and for the robbery charge, Judge Carroll Moran sentenced the accused to two years in prison to be served consecutively.
