Two bank raiders held after car hijack and chase

A high-speed chase of three suspected armed robbers through Co Wexford only ended when they were confronted by gardaí as they tried to hijack a second car.

The drama unfolded on Main Street, Gorey shortly before 1pm yesterday when two masked men, on believed to have been armed with a handgun, entered the local branch of Permanent TSB branch.

Customers were left traumatised when the attackers threatened the frightened staff and demanded cash.

However, the plan was foiled when a panic alarm was activated and the men were forced to leave empty-handed.

They jumped into a black Fiat Punto, driven by a third raider and drove at high speed through the Main Street heading towards the Arklow Road.

The car was spotted by gardaí from Gorey Garda Station the patrol car came involved in a high-speed chase.

At a well-known local landmark, Kilmurray Cross, about three kilometres from the town, the raiders hijacked a second car, a Toyota Corolla, and sped in the direction of Ballywilliam, north of Courtown Harbour.

The raiders were confronted by officers as they attempted to hijack a third getaway car and gardaí managed to deploy incapacitating spray and one man was arrested. The search spread to nearby fields where a second man was arrested and a firearm recovered. A garda suffered minor injuries.

The men, who are in their 20s, were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act, 1939, at Enniscorthy and Gorey Garda Stations.