Robber hid under rug with cash in socks

A hooded criminal, who robbed a service station at knifepoint, was found by gardaí hiding under a rug with the cash stuffed in his socks.

Gary Long, aged 34, of St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick, pleaded guilty to carrying out the crime on Apr 23, 2012.

Judge Carroll Moran heard how Long entered the Applegreen service station shop in Corbally at around 8.30pm.

Long threatened the only staff member present that he would cut his throat if he did not hand over money from the till.

Long ran off with over €1,500 in cash into nearby Shannon Banks housing estate.

Det Garda Reidy said Long, who had previous convictions, co-operated. He told gardaí he had carried out the robbery to pay gambling debts.