Man who went on violent rampage in Hanover Park is jailed for three years
Carlow Courthouse Photo: Michael O'Rourke
A CARLOW man with 75 previous convictions, who went on a violent rampage through a local park – robbing one man of his watch, attempting to steal another man’s dog and trying to snatch a mobile phone from a third who came to his victim’s aid – has been jailed for three years and two months, with the final 12 months suspended.
Joe Curtin of no fixed abode appeared before Judge Mary Morrissey at Carlow Circuit Court on 27 February via video link, having pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery arising from incidents at Hanover Park in Carlow town on the evening of 1 May 2025.
Det Garda Kieran Shields of Carlow Garda Station outlined the facts of the case to the court. At approximately 8pm, the first complainant was walking through the park when he was confronted by Mr Curtin, who demanded money and his watch. When the man resisted, Mr Curtin struck him in the face, sat on him and went through his pockets, taking the watch from his wrist before walking away.
The injured party raised the alarm and contacted gardaí.
Ten minutes later and in the same location, Mr Curtin approached a second man who was walking his dog and demanded money, a mobile phone and the dog. When the complainant refused, Mr Curtin kicked him.
A third man came upon the incident and attempted to intervene, at which point Mr Curtin tried to take his mobile phone. The two men fled in the direction of Penneys and alerted gardaí.
When gardaí returned to the park, Mr Curtin was still present and was arrested at the scene. He was searched by Garda David O’Sullivan, who discovered the first victim’s watch in his pocket. Mr Curtin was detained at the garda station, but was assessed as being under the influence of intoxicants and was deemed unfit for questioning due to the level of intoxication. A doctor was called.
Mr Curtin was subsequently interviewed and made full admissions, co-operating fully with the investigation.
Efforts were made to obtain victim impact statements from all three complainants. The first declined to make a statement. The second told the court he had been left with fears about the park and that he would not allow his family to go there anymore. The third, while declining to make a formal statement, indicated that he hoped Mr Curtin would get the help he needed.
Counsel for the defence, Mr Kelly, instructed by solicitor Chris Hogan, submitted that Mr Curtin was not seeking to minimise the seriousness of the offences and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
He described the level of co-operation given to gardaí as “about as full as you can get” and drew the court’s attention to a four-page letter written by Mr Curtin to the court, in which he expressed deep remorse. ‘I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I can’t believe I’ve put myself in this situation again. I feel ashamed. I’ve let myself and my family down again,’ he wrote.
Counsel outlined that on the day in question, Mr Curtin – who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis – had not been taking his prescribed antipsychotic medication and had consumed a significant quantity of stolen whiskey. He recollected hearing voices on the day.
A forensic psychology report before the court noted that imprisonment alone had not resolved his situation and had at times worsened his vulnerability, recommending instead structured engagement with support services, carefully monitored.
A probation report, while noting positive elements, also highlighted a recurring pattern of serious concern. Following previous releases from prison, Mr Curtin had reconnected with negative associates, ceased taking his medication and resumed drug and alcohol use. He was assessed as being at a very high risk of reoffending in the next 12 months unless the underlying risk factors were comprehensively addressed.
The report described him as a socially vulnerable individual suffering from low self-esteem, chronic anxiety and an inability to sustain relationships, with periods of social isolation. Polysubstance misuse had begun in early childhood.
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Morrissey noted that Mr Curtin has 75 previous convictions, including 28 for theft, two previous robbery offences, possession of a knife, assault, criminal damage and breaches of a barring order, among others. She found that there was high moral culpability in the case, describing the offending as premeditated.
“Mr Curtin sought out victims and used violence in counts one and two,” she said. “He had an impact on the second victim and his family, who has chosen not to frequent the park anymore.”
She noted, however, that while there was no medical evidence of injuries sustained by the victims, the forensic psychology report provided important context regarding the defendant’s mental state on the day. She acknowledged the mitigating factors, including the early guilty plea, the letter of apology, family support – Mr Curtin’s father has offered him accommodation upon release – and the insight into his offending demonstrated in the psychological report.
Judge Morrissey imposed a sentence of four years and six months on count one, four years and three months on count two and four years on count three, all to run concurrently. Taking mitigation into account, she reduced the sentence to three years and two months, suspending the final 12 months on the condition that Mr Curtin enter into a bond of €250, be of good behaviour, and engage fully with probation services, including mental health services, addiction treatment and drugs screening as directed.
The court also dealt with a section 99 re-entry matter. Mr Curtin had previously appeared before the court in February 2024 in relation to a theft charge, a firearms offence and a section 2 assault, arising from which he was serving a five-year sentence, with the final year suspended. Judge Morrissey said she was proposing to reactivate that suspended element but would suspend it on the same terms as the current sentence – requiring the defendant to engage with mental health and addiction services, including residential treatment and community counselling as appropriate.
Det Garda Shields, who gave evidence at the earlier hearing, told the court that he had known Mr Curtin for a number of years and that he was “the most placid person” when not under the influence of substances. “I just think on this occasion, yes, he has serious offences, if he gets the help he needs, it is of serious benefit to him and to the community,” he said.
“I wish you luck and will see you on 10 March,” Judge Morrissey said to Mr Curtin at the conclusion of proceedings.
