Irishman pleads guilty to robbing bank in US

A man from Ireland today pleaded guilty in a federal court in Maine to robbing a Bank of America branch in October.

Niall Clarke (aged 26) also pleaded guilty to using a firearm while committing a federal crime of violence, lying on an application to buy a gun and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Clarke faces up to 25 years in prison on the robbery charge, with additional prison time on the other charges.

A sentencing date has not been set.

Clarke was arrested shortly after the robbery while driving on Interstate 95 with more than €8,900 in his possession, prosecutors said. He also had a loaded .38-calibre handgun and a box of ammunition.

Clarke, who was living in Portland at the time, went to the United States a year ago and was supposed to have left last April, officials said.

He is expected to be deported after he serves his sentence.