Portlaoise gardaí look for second man after armed robbery

Gardaí in Portlaoise are looking for a man in his 20s following an armed raid at a jewellers in the town yesterday.

Two men armed with a hammer and an imitation handgun entered Brownes jewellers on the Main Street yesterday morning and tied up two women working there.

A 25-year-old Polish man has been arrested and is being held at Portlaoise garda station.

The robbery was foiled when store owner Gerry Browne barricaded the rear exit and tackled one intruder as he emerged from the front door.