Man acquitted of role in attempted armed robbery

A man accused of taking part in an attempted armed robbery in which a raider was shot dead has been acquitted by direction of the trial judge.

Darren Keane (aged 25) and his co-accused John Boylan (aged 25) were alleged to have been the “lookout and getaway” men in the attempted robbery of a cash in transit van. One of the raiders, Garreth Molloy, was fatally wounded during a shoot out with gardaí.

Mr Keane of Foxdene Avenue, Clondalkin had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery and possession of a sawn-off shotgun at Foxborough Road, Lucan on May 15, 2009.

Mr Boylan of Gandon Court, Lucan was earlier also found not guilty by direction of the judge after lengthy legal argument. He had pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

Because of a lack of evidence, Judge Mary Ellen Ring ordered the jury to find Mr Keane not guilty. She thanked them for their service and commented that the incident on Foxborough Road had affected several lives especially those of Mr Molloy’s family and the garda who fired the fatal shots.

Another accused, Keith Murtagh (aged 28) of Lower Sherriff Street was jailed for 10 years in 2010. He was injured during the shootout with gardaí and later pleaded guilty to his role in the raid.

Derek Hutch (aged 27) of Chapel Farm Avenue, Lusk has also pleaded guilty to his role in the offence and will be sentenced later by Judge Ring.