Brother of screwdriver killer David Curran jailed for violent robberies of four pensioners

Dublin thug Joseph Curran, who has 65 convictions despite being just 22, knocked three of his victims, including a woman in her 80s, to the ground during the terrifying robberies which he carried out while on bail for burglary.

The Sunday World can reveal that Curran, from Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, is a brother of notorious double killer David Curran, who was given a life sentence for stabbing two Polish workers through the head with a screwdriver in a crime that shocked the nation in 2008.

Another brother, Paul 'Paulie' Curran, was stabbed to death by a drug dealer in Dolphin's Barn in 2016.

Their father Michael McGuirk was previously jailed for nine years for taking part in a €250,000 tiger kidnapping.

Their family home was burnt out in an arson attack believed to have been carried out by a local gang in 2014 and they had to jump from a window to escape the blaze.

Joseph is now joining his brother behind bars after being sentenced to six years at Dublin Circuit Court after pleading guilty to the robberies, a theft and a burglary where he was confronted by a homeowner.

He has 65 previous convictions, including convictions for robbery, burglary, criminal damage and possessing stolen property.

Judge Melanie Greally noted that Curran was on bail during the offending in 2021 and said the robberies and theft were aggravated by the women being targeted due to their age and vulnerabilities, and due to the impact of the offences on the four women.

Garda Gary Cleary told Aideen Collard BL, prosecuting, that on the morning in June 2021, a 76-year-old woman was on her way to mass in Crumlin Church when she was pushed to the ground with such force that she hurt both her wrists. Curran took her bag and ran away.

Garda Cleary said on the same date, a 67-year-old woman was on her way to work and was walking along Walkinstown Avenue when she noticed a shadow behind her. Curran snatched her handbag from her hand and fled the scene.

The court heard that in September 2021, a woman in her 80s was walking around a corner on Beechwood Avenue. The next thing she could remember was coming to with swelling to her head and her bag gone.

Her bag contained her phone, keys and cards. She has no memory of the robbery.

On the same day in the same location, a 72-year-old woman felt someone grab her bag. She hit the ground and he was already running away.

Curran was identified by gardai in all cases on CCTV footage obtained from the various areas.