Longford man jailed for his role in robbery of Service Station

A Longford man who assisted a raider with a service station robbery has been sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Fergal Gannon (41) of Ferafad, Longford pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to impeding the apprehension of a person on September 14, 2023 while knowing that his accomplice Noel McLoughlin was guilty of an arrestable offence namely that he assisted with the movement of his bike over a barrier.

Gannon also separately admitted handling stolen property (a DeWalt router) at Lower Ferefad, Longford on April 23, 2023.

At a previous hearing, Detective Garda Orla Geraghty confirmed to the court that, on September 14, 2023, a filling station owner opened his business at 6am.

At 8.17am, the owner noticed a man, now known to be Noel McLoughlin (32) of Ferafad, Ardagh Road, Longford enter the shop with his hood up.

This alerted his suspicions as the raider was attempting to hide his face.

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McLoughlin, who was previously sentenced to five years in prison in January 2024, approached one of the tills and asked the owner for Amber Leaf tobacco.

When he handed the tobacco over, McLoughlin produced a gun and pointed it at him. The station owner, the court heard, was “shocked” and “distressed” and feared for himself and his staff.

He told McLoughlin to leave and the accused man walked out the door. The station owner followed the accused into the Old Ardnacassa housing estate where McLoughlin stopped and pointed the gun at him again before turning and running away.

The court heard Gardaí obtained CCTV and observed two males matching McLoughlin and Gannon’s description cycling on bicycles up to an area near the store before the robbery.

Gannon was also seen on CCTV lifting McLoughlin’s bicycle over a barrier and helping to aid his escape.

When describing the weapon Mr McLoughlin used to Gardaí, the station owner said it was a “longish” barrel pistol, dark grey in colour and that he believed it to be an imitation gun.

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The victim was terrified by the robbery and left frightened and traumatised.

A ballistics report carried out on the weapon confirmed it to be a 6mm calibre revolver, branded Dan Wesson.

The report stated the weapon was an airgun, designed to resemble a magnum revolver, which discarded pellets. The gun was loaded with “inserts” which did not fall under the definition of ammunition.

State barrister Shane Geraghty BL, outlined Gannon was interviewed twice and he stated he had known McLoughlin for two years and they bought and used drugs together.

"The CCTV was shown to him and it was put to him that he helped him to lift the bike over the barrier," he said. "He denied any knowledge that Mr McLoughlin had engaged in a robbery with an imitation firearm."

The court heard Gannon was charged on September 14, 2023 and on January 9, 2024 he entered a guilty plea.

Gannon was arrested on September 26 last and none of his DNA was found on the gun or pellets.

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The defendant told Gardaí if he had known what McLoughlin had been up to he never would have accompanied him.

Gannon had 23 previous convictions and the court heard most of his offending was connected to drug addiction.

Defence barrister Gerard Groarke BL said Gannon had a turbulent childhood and he was in foster care for a period.

The court heard the defendant had found his biological family in recent years and an uncle in county Laois he speaks to 'every second day' and he is eager to relocate there after he is released from prison.

Gannon, a father of six, who is currently in prison, stated he has been off heroin for 16 months.

"I've been talking to my uncle since my (youngest) son was born in 2020," he said. "I have somewhere to live."

Gannon said his youngest son is in foster care and there is a 'review' in two years and he wants to get his life in order and have contact.

Judge Kenneth Connolly said he was 'somewhat impressed' by Gannon and he imposed a 10-month sentence, backdated to last July, for assisting McLoughlin.

He imposed a two year and two month sentence and he suspended the final six months and placed Gannon on a good behaviour bond for two years, directed him to engage with the probation services for 18 months and refrain from drug use.