Gardaí question suspect after raid
Two unarmed gardaí forced the raiders to abandon their getaway on a high performance motorbike after challenging them as they fled the store with up to E100,000 in cash. The gardaí were threatened at gunpoint.
The pair then hijacked at gunpoint a woman’s car before crashing it after a high-speed chase. They then fled on foot, leaving the stolen cash and their pump action shotgun behind.
A 20-year-old man was being questioned following the mid-morning armed raid on the Argos store in the Liffey Valley centre that would have netted the pair between E50,000 and E100,000 had the unarmed gardaí on routine patrol not intervened. Gardaí are still looking for a second man in his early twenties but are confident he will be found.
The shotgun was pointed at the two gardaí as they stood between the robbers and their getaway vehicle, eye witnesses said. One of the two raiders shouted: “Stay back”. As one of the men ran towards a main road running past the Liffey Valley retail centre, the other covered the gardaí with the gun before moving off after his accomplice.
Standing in the middle of the road, the pair tried to wave down one car but the driver sped on. A second car stopped, the gun was pointed at the female driver and she was ordered out of the vehicle. The two young men jumped in to the Nissan. As the passenger kept his gun directed at the gardaí, the driver sped off. The gardaí returned to their patrol car, called for back up and then gave chase. The garda helicopter was deployed and helped track the stolen vehicle.
After a mile they crashed the car at a roundabout in the Shancastle area of Clondalkin. The two fled, leaving the bag of cash and a sawn-off shotgun.
Following a search of the area, one of the two was discovered hiding in a shed. He is being questioned under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State and can be held for 72 hours.
The raid on the Argos store took place at 11.30am in front of dozens of shoppers. A spokesman for the major group said last night: “We are currently assisting the gardaí with their investigation. None of our staff were physically injured. Support is being offered to those who witnessed the event and the store has been closed for remainder of the day.” The shop is expected to re-open today.
