A drug addict grandfather who was part of a masked gang that raided an elderly couple's home in Dublin has been jailed for five years.
Grandfather-of-three Patrick Ryan of South Circular Road in Dublin pleaded guilty to assaulting James and Sally Mountaine, threats to kill and stealing $4,000 and jewellery at Ashfield in Templeogue on February 3, 2010.
The four masked men tied up James Mountaine and his wife, who were in their 70s, beat them and threatened to burn and kill them if they did not tell them where to find money.
A friend, who had been on the phone to Mr Mountaine as the raiders burst in the door, heard the whole ordeal and called gardaí.
The 50-year-old had 38 previous convictions, including nine years in prison for larceny and four years for robbery.
Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the last two years of a seven-year sentence.
She said that the threat to set the woman on fire was an aggravating factor.
