Man jailed for robbing Kildare shop with fake gun
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A MAN was sentenced to six years in prison with the final 18 months suspended for robbing a Centra store in Naas, while brandishing a pistol, which later was revealed to be a pellet gun.
Daniel Cashin (34) of Connolly Place, Waterford was sentenced in Naas Circuit Court before Judge Elva Duffy for robbery under Section 14 of the Criminal Justice Act, and for one count of possession of cannabis.
Naas Circuit Court heard that the accused entered Centra Hazelmere in Naas at 7.45pm wearing dark clothing and a balaclava with a pistol in his hand on 5 December 2025.
The accused was seen to point the gun at members of staff, telling them to get on the floor and raise their arms. The court heard he ordered a member of staff to give him money from the till and later from a safe on the premises.
The court heard that the accused shouted aggressively at members of staff and threatened to shoot if they did not comply with his requests, but assured customers that he would not hurt them.
One witness described the incident as a “hostage situation” before a total of €1,415 was handed to the accused in a brown paper bag.
Mr Cashin then left the store and was stopped by gardaí at Fairgreen Street, Naas with €1,395 on his person, as well as a small quantity of cannabis amounting to €20.
The man was then arrested on the same date, and made admissions to gardaí the next day.
It was heard that the defendant was under the influence of benzodiazepine, cannabis and a bottle of vodka on the day of the incident.
Mr Cashin admitted to bringing the gun to the shop to rob it, before throwing it in a bush outside his apartment building.
He also admitted to needing the money to pay off a drug debt, and identified himself on CCTV.
It was heard that the accused has expressed his apologies to victims of the crime, but no victim impact statements were entered into the court, as they all wished to move on from the situation.
Mr Cashin has 88 previous convictions, namely robbery and burglary charges.
Mr Cashin’s defence counsel, Brian Barrington, told the court that two months before the incident took place, the accused was a witness in a separate criminal trial relating to a traumatic incident.
Mr Barrington said that the accused “fully acknowledges the seriousness of the robbery offence,” and that he wishes to address his addiction and psychological issues.
It was also heard that before the incident, Mr Cashin was released from prison on a separate robbery offence on 19 August 2025 and was to serve a suspended sentence for a period of six months.
However, the conditions attached to his release broken after the December incident took place.
Judge Duffy took all matters into consideration during sentencing, including the accused’s prosocial behaviour while in custody, and imposed a sentence of six years with the final 18 months suspended.
He was also remanded into custody to appear before Waterford Circuit Court on 28 July in relation to the breach made on his previous suspension.
