Syringe-wielding thief overpowered by garda

The manager of a Limerick hotel was terrified when a man put a syringe to his neck and grabbed a cash box, a court heard.

As this happened, another hotel employee ran to Henry Street Garda Station a short distance away and alerted gardaí, who ran to the scene and grabbed the attacker after a chase and a struggle.

Kenneth Noonan, aged 30, of Crecora Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday to robbery at The Limerick CIty Hotel and false imprisonment of the night manger, Rafael Zipagan.