Knife-wielding gang arrested after car chase

A LIMERICK city gang who terrified two women in a post office raid were arrested by an armed detective after a high-speed chase through country roads.

Four men aged between 18 and 43, all from the Ballinacurra Weston area of Limerick, were held at gunpoint by Detective Garda Tim Hartnett after he intercepted the getaway car.

Earlier one of the gang held a knife to a woman’s throat in Knocklong Post Office as he demanded money form the post mistress, Majella Ryan.

He got over €4,000 in cash along with postal orders and ran to a car with three others in it which was waiting outside the post office.

Gardaí in Bruff under Superintendent Jim Browne set up road blocks and Det Garda Hartnett intercepted the gang on a back road between Hospital and Knocklong shortly after the robbery which was carried out late on Friday afternoon last.

At one point during the chase, it is believed that gardaí fired a warning gun shot.

The gang surrendered and in a follow up search the cash stolen from the post office was found wrapped in a coat which was hidden in a ditch.

Knives and balaclavas were found in the Toyota Corolla used by the gang who were aged 18, 27, 32 and 43.

Supt Browne said a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He said: “The two women in the post office were very traumatised by what happened and one woman was held with a knife to her throat”.

The car used in the robbery has forensically examined.