'Fear and terror': Longford pharmacy staff terrified by knife wielding robber

A county Longford man, who threatened a pharmacist with knives leaving him and other staff members terrified, has been sentenced to three years in prison, which has been suspended for three years.

Matt Cummins (51) of Pairc na Habhainn, Edgeworthstown pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to robbing 84 Pregabalin tablets valued at €15 from Tully's Chemist, Main Street, Edgeworthstown.

The defendant also admitted producing an article in the course of that offence at the pharmacy on February 24, 2025.

Pharmacist Declan John Tully, who provided a victim impact statement, said he was considering quitting his role due to the fear and terror he was subjected to on the date in question.

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Garda Shane O'Connor told Judge Jonathan Dunphy that Gardaí responded to a panic alarm by stopping at the pharmacy after a customer had not received a particular drug included in his medication that was collected earlier that day for him.

When the defendant attended the pharmacy near the end of business hours the pharmacist refused to dispense the particular drug as it was not contained or renewed on the GP prescription.

However, the court heard when Mr Tully informed Mr Cummins of the situation and returned into his staff in the dispensary section he heard staff members screaming.

Garda O'Connor said Mr Tully turned to see the 'defendant standing in front of him with the knives in his possession, which was very intimidating and aggressive and he was demanding the medicine Pregabalin from him.

The court heard when Mr Tully pointed to the medicine on the shelf the defendant reached over and he grabbed one box and he then discarded the two knives onto the work counter, driving one of the knives into the counter aggressively before leaving the store.

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Garda O'Connor said Mr Tully then announced that he would hand himself into the garda station.

Judge Dunphy said he had seen photographs of the two knives and they could only be “described as two knives that are potentially lethal and would clearly instill fear in others”.

Garda O'Connor said the defendant's daughter  made a 999 call a short time later as she had concerns for her father given his behaviour that day.

Judge Dunphy heard that while Ms Cummins (21) was on the phone to the investigating garda a short time later the defendant took the phone from her and spoke to the guards and he immediately admitted what he had done.

The defendant apologised to Mr Tully and all of the staff in the pharmacy who were put in fear by his actions and he said he was ashamed and remorseful.

Prosecuting barrister Stephen Faulkner said there was no indication of any financial loss, but the victim Mr Tully had suffered significantly.

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The victim gave details of the psychological and psychiatric effects of the robbery on him in a victim impact statement, which was read into the court record by Mr Faulkner.

Mr Tully stated that  the traumatic incident of being held up with two knives by Mr Cummins, who acted in a threatening and aggressive manner, has had a significant impact on him.

"I was shocked that this happened in relation to Mr Cummins, that he had no valid prescription sent by his doctor for his medicine.

"I had practised pharmacy for 30 years and I have never had an incident of this nature before.

"Subsequently, I have flashbacks and nightmares that if I hadn't  supplied some of the medicines in this emergency I could have been severely injured by these strange looking knives that I've never seen the like of before."

Mr Faukner said that in terms of life changes Mr Tully indicated that his 'work has changed forever'.

He stated he will have to reconsider if working in the community pharmacy is worth the fear and anxiety given the 'fear and terror' he experienced on the day of the incident.

Barrister Nichola Delaney, defending, said apart from a minor road traffic incident her client had no offending history and he had not come to any Garda attention since.

"He doesn't have a GP at present, that is part of the problem," she added.

Ms Delaney asked Judge Dunphy if he could deal with it in such a way that he would not impose an immediate custodial sentence.

Judge Dunphy noted the father of two daughters had been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since he was discharged from the defence forces.

Judge Dunphy said he believed the incident was at the higher level of the lower end of the scale. "The aggravating factors were the production of  knives in the course of the incident was both threatening and frightening to others.”

Judge Dunphy said given the high degree of assistance by the defendant in the immediate aftermath, his admissions and his attempt to hand himself into Gardaí he was imposing a three year prison sentence, which he suspended for three years.

He took into consideration his personal circumstances, his lack of previous convictions and the fact he had not come to Garda attention since, his good familial relationships and support network.

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Judge Dunphy noted his remorse, health difficulties, his good work history, his positive engagement with a psychologist and his 'excellent' insight into his offending.

"The nature can be described as a mental health breakdown of sorts due to his drug dependency and vulnerabilities at the time leading to this offending and the fact that he has turned a significant corner assuring this court that behaviour like this will never take place again."

He suspended the custodial sentence on Mr Cummins on strict conditions, which included he places himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for two years.