'I would do anything for him': Couple's 'inside job' in Limerick bookies

A COUPLE clutched each other’s hands and wept intermittently in the dock of Limerick Circuit Criminal Court as they were sentenced for an “inside job” in a bookies.

The court heard Chloe Kelly, an employee of Paddy Power, left the counter door open in the William Street branch for her partner Kevin Johnson, an ex-professional rugby player, and another man to burst in and  steal over €11,000 in cash.

Defence counsel said the money was to pay off a drugs debt owed by Mr Johnson’s brother, who later tragically died.

Mr Johnson, aged 44, of Hillcroft Close, St Patrick’s Road, Limerick pleaded guilty to robbery at Paddy Power, William Street on December 20, 2021. Ms Kelly, aged 27, of the same address, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a robbery.

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Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda Enda Clifford.

Mr O’Sullivan said Ms Kelly and a male employee were working in the betting shop at around 7pm on December 20, 2021.

“The male employee said he was behind the counter area. All of a sudden he heard the counter door open and a male was running towards him holding a blade. The assailant didn’t say anything. He punched him once in the face.

“A second male ran in and went straight to the back kitchen area where the safe was. He was there for 30 seconds and then both men ran out. The male employee noted that the safe had been cleaned out. The man who had gone into the kitchen area was Mr Johnson. The other man, who we will refer to as Mr X, was acting in consort. He also grabbed some money from a cash float,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The male employee suffered a bruise under his right eye and told gardai, “I was in fear when the man was holding the knife”. The total amount stolen was €11,160 and none of it has been recovered.

“It is the prosecution case it was an ‘inside job’. Mr Johnson and Ms Kelly were in a relationship,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

Gardai were contacted and an investigation commenced. CCTV was harvested and footage from a taxi of a suspect being dropped and collected near the area was seized. 

“Detective Garda Ronan O’Reilly identified the accused as Mr Johnson. They had played rugby against each other,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

Mr Johnson -   a taxi driver and former member of the Defence Forces - was also identified by distinctive tattoos.

His house was searched  and items including a pair of Yeezy trainers with black and yellow soles were seized. Mr O’Sullivan said they matched the trainers worn by the person who stole the money from the safe.

When Mr Johnson was questioned by gardai he denied involvement in the robbery. When asked about the trainers he said: “There are thousands of pairs. You are clutching at straws”. 

Ms Kelly was first interviewed as a potential witness following the robbery. She told gardai she started work at 5.30pm, logged on, went to make a cup of tea, saw the safe was open and checked it for tenners. She told gardai she pushed back in the safe door but didn’t close it.

“I didn’t recognise either of the men. I was in fear of these men,” said Ms Kelly to gardai.

When she was arrested in June of 2022 she told gardai she had had her employment terminated by Paddy Power over a “breach of security”. She told gardai she hadn’t closed the door at the counter properly.

Gardai asked if she discussed the security features in the bookmakers with Mr Johnson.

“I would, it’s s***,” replied Ms Kelly.

She denied that she knew the bookmakers was going to be robbed and knowing the two men involved.

In a subsequent interview months later , she told gardai it was Mr Johnson and Mr X’s idea to rob Paddy Power. She told gardai Mr Johnson asked her about security and doors, that he was going to do it and she told him, “Are you stupid?”.

“Even after I left the door open I didn’t think he would do it,” Ms Kelly told gardai.

Mr O’Sullivan said Ms Kelly agreed that she was a willing participant in the robbery.

The court heard that Mr Johnson has previous convictions for minor road traffic offences and Ms Kelly has none.

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Kenneth Kerins BL, who represented Mr Johnson, said it was an extraordinary case that a man with no relevant previous convictions commits a robbery at 40-years-of-age.

“Correct. It was a difficult case also to investigate. Over 2,000 hours of CCTV harvested to bring it to this stage,” said Det Garda Clifford.

In mitigation, Mr Kerins said his client has pleaded guilty and wrote a letter of apology to the court and gardai, which was read out by Mr Kerins.

Mr Johnson also apologised to his partner Ms Kelly who he said is an “amazing lady who should never have been involved in this”.

He said he is extremely embarrassed and remorseful and “was not raised this way by my mam and dad”.

Mr Kerins handed in character references from a counsellor, person in Fairview Rangers, a retired sergeant major in the Defence Forces, his father-in-law and a person in Southside Boxing Club.

“He is a father-of-two who found himself in very difficult circumstances prior to the commission of the offence. There are subservice elements. His brother ran up a drug debt and Mr Johnson took responsibility for the debt. Immediately after the robbery he went to the criminal’s house. His brother died tragically. It is not an excuse but it is an explanation why a man who was 40 years of age committed this first offence.

“He played sport at a significant level, played for Shannon and went to Harlequins in England where he played professional rugby. He is a loving father, comes from a hard-working family and served his State,” said Mr Kerins, who described the robbery as “an act of lunacy” and “aberration” in an otherwise positive life story.

Eimear Carey BL, for Ms Kelly, said in mitigation for her client that she made admissions and pleaded guilty.

“She fully accepts her role. There was a misguided sense of loyalty to Mr Johnson. She was 23 at the time. It was a foolish error, albeit a grave one. She has no previous convictions.

“She is a hairdresser who rents a chair in a salon and works part-time in a bar,” said Ms Carey, who handed in testimonials from her employers and a letter of apology from Ms Kelly

“She is apologetic and remorseful. There is deep shame and embarrassment. She is haunted by it,” said Ms Carey.

The barrister said Ms Kelly followed her partner and quoted the defendant telling gardai, “I would do anything for him”.

Judge Daly imposed a four year jail sentence on Mr Johnson with the final 12 months suspended. Ms Kelly received a fully suspended three year sentence.

There were emotional scenes as Mr Johnson was led away to begin his prison sentence.