Barman threatened with loaded gun after refusing to serve pint

A MAN pointed a loaded gun at a barman and threatened to kill him, apparently after being refused a pint.

Gardaí apprehended the gunman after he left the pub and they found the loaded weapon during a search of his house.

The incident occurred in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday in a well-known pub in Dublin’s south inner city.

Experienced officers, well used to dealing with gang crime, were shocked at the incident, which happened at 4.20pm at Malone’s Pub in Inchicore.

“This is a most unusual incident,” said one Garda source.

“He had just gone into the pub before the incident, got involved in a dispute with the barman, apparently after being refused a drink, and produced a loaded Glock handgun and threatened him.”

Gardaí said they were investigating the full circumstances of the incident and said they were not yet sure of the full reasons for the threat.

“We’re quite happy to have recovered this weapon. This is a man who was not known to us as someone with access to a gun. It just goes to show you.”

Officers from Kilmainham Garda Station reacted immediately after being alerted by staff once the gunman had left the pub.

Gardaí examined CCTV footage from the area and issued a description of the man to all gardaí.

A short while later, officers stopped a man walking along Davitt Road in Drimnagh, a short distance away. He had just crossed a pedestrian bridge over the Grand Canal from Inchicore when he was stopped.

Gardaí searched his address in the Bulfin estate in Inchicore, where they recovered a handgun and a magazine containing a number of rounds of ammunition.

The man, aged 27, was arrested and taken to Kevin Street Garda Station.

He is being held under the Offences Against the State Act, which allows for a maximum period of three days’ detention.

The firearm and ammunition have been sent to the ballistics section at Garda headquarters for examination.

Meanwhile, gardaí in the area are looking to talk to a number of people in relation to the murder of a 21-year-old man in Bluebell last February.

Darren Guerrine, of La Touche Road, Bluebell, was shot in the back of the head close to his home on February 18.

Since then, gardaí have carried out a number of arrests as well as drug searches, but sources said there are a few more people they want to interview on suspicion of withholding information.

Gardaí have not yet established a definite motive for the murder.

The victim was not well known to local officers.