Fake-gun raider jailed for seven years

One of three men who forced a porter to open up a bank at gun point telling him they had kidnapped his wife has been jailed for seven years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Glen Keegan (aged 25) and two accomplices, who were not before the court, failed in the armed raid of the Bank of Ireland on Main Street in Tallaght as the porter was able to activate a silent alarm calling gardaí to the scene.

Keegan, of Heatherview Avenue, Aylesbury, Tallaght pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the bank on May 3, 2005. It was later discovered that the hand gun he was armed with was an imitation.

Judge Katherine Delahunt suspended the final year of the sentence and said that unarmed gardaí who had chased Keegan and had a gun pointed at them had taken a "heroic stand" that "cannot be underestimated".

Garda Ronan Doolin told Caroline Biggs BL, prosecuting, that the porter arrived at the bank’s car park at 7.40 am. Three men jumped out of bushes including Keegan who was armed with a gun. The men brought the porter to the main door of the bank and forced him to open it.

Keegan told the porter not to set off the alarm and that he would shoot him if there was any "messing". The porter was told that his wife had been kidnapped so he "better cooperate".

The raiders said they wanted €50,000 and demanded keys to the safe and pass machine. Another man had a hammer and tried to smash the pass machine and the porter was again threatened that he and his family would be killed.

The porter was able to put his hand in his pocket and press a silent panic button. Gardaí arrived at the scene as the raiders were in the cash room and the porter heard them shout "get out" and "shoot him".

A female garda saw Keegan run from the rear of the bank and chased him. She caught up with him but he shoved her and said: "F**k off, I’m armed and will shoot you".

Garda Doolin then chased Keegan who again said "stop following me or I’ll shoot you". Garda Doolin said he was able to arrest Keegan after a struggle.

Keegan apologised repeatedly following the raid and told gardaí he and his accomplices had hatched their plan only the night before.

He had 15 previous convictions for public order and road traffic offences and was on a methadone programme at the time. Eriwn Mill Arden SC, defending, said Keegan was also using cocaine and was in debt due to his drug use.