Off-duty garda disarmed accused in Dublin, court hears

A 39-year-old Dublin man accused of putting an imitation handgun to a shopkeeper’s head before being disarmed by an off-duty garda, has been refused bail.

Patrick Brazil, with an address at Prussia St, was arrested on Monday afternoon following a foiled raid at the Valuemart at Oxmanstown Rd, Dublin. He was brought to Mountjoy Garda Station for questioning and then appeared before Judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court yesterday charged with robbery of an unknown sum of money. He was remanded in custody to appear again on Friday.

Garda Claire Rafferty said the accused made no reply when he was charged. She objected to bail citing the seriousness of the offence. She said it would be alleged that at 1.10 pm on Monday, Patrick Brazil entered the shop and produced a handgun which he allegedly put to the head of the shopkeeper.