A man who denied an attempted aggravated burglary while armed with a shotgun was seen at the scene of the crime by an armed member of the Garda Regional Support Unit, a judge and jury was told yesterday.

A shotgun stolen two years ago from a suburb on the western side of Cork City was discarded by raiders as they fled from armed gardaí who lay in wait for them as they attempted to rob a businessman.

The hunters became the hunted as scenes akin to a Hollywood cops and robbers blockbuster unfolded in a quiet, middle-class rural community.