Man posing as wheelchair-bound woman jailed for attempted robberies

A man who attempted to rob a building society in Dublin while dressed as a wealthy wheelchair-bound woman has been jailed for this, and another attempted robbery.

Thomas Clark arrived at the building society unshaven and wearing a poor quality black wig.

He was being pushed in the wheelchair by his accomplice Martin Collins.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Clark's accomplice had previously made an appointment with the manager on the pretence that a woman he was caring for had been awarded €2.9 million by the State and wanted to invest it.

However when the pair arrived at the Permanent TSB on Lower Kilmacud Road in on October 20, 2010 the branch manager noticed that the 'older woman' was wearing what was obviously a black wig .

Clark then got out of the wheelchair and produced what the manager thought was a shotgun. It was then that he noticed that it was a man dressed as a woman and that the weapon was a replica.

Both Collins of Neilstown Gardens, Clondalkin and Clark with addresses at Keeper Road, Crumlin and Chaplains Place, Clondalkin pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery.

Clark also pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of the EBS in Leixlip the following day. The court heard that while running to escape from pursuing Gardaí, Clark jumped into the River Liffey and tried to swim across it before being apprehended by Gardaí.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Clark to consecutive prison terms totalling six years but suspended the final two on strict conditions.

Collins was jailed for 3 years for his role in the crime last February.