Glass did not match fragments on suspect

Fragments of glass found on the clothing of a man suspected of involvement in the armed robbery of a jewellers last year did not match glass samples taken from the store, a forensic scientist told a trial yesterday.

Irmantas Paulauskas, aged 38, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of 208 diamond rings and 32 Rolex watches from Richard Hartmann, 29 William St, Galway, on February 11, 2015.

He also denies a second charge of having an imitation pistol with a silencer fitted, in his possession with intent to commit robbery on the same date.

Nora Lee, from the Forensic Science Laboratory, told the jury she was given the clothes Mr Paulauskas was wearing on the date of his arrest, which was less than an hour after the robbery.

Ms Lee was also given samples of glass taken from the interior doors of the window display units from Hartmann’s, which had been shattered with lump hammers in the robbery.

She said she examined Mr Paulauskas’ clothing and found four small fragments of glass; one on his trousers, two on a scarf he was wearing that day, and one on a glove, also found in his possession that day.

“None of these matched the glass samples from Hartmann’s. The glass recovered from his clothing did not come from Hartmann’s Jewellers,” she said.

The third day of his trial heard evidence from exhibits officer Garda Dominic McPartland, who said he found a pair of silver handcuffs in the pocket of a jacket, taken from Mr Paulauskas while he was being processed at Galway Garda Station, less than a hour after the robbery.

Garda Jason Kelly gave evidence that he ran after the other two men down a laneway from Middle St, which led onto Merchant’s Rd. Members of the public on Merchant’s Rd told him they saw two men ride away on bicycles.

The trial continues next week.