Passing garda car stumbles upon cash-van raiders

A Garda patrol car happened to be passing by when cash-in-transit raiders were making their escape today.

The incident happened at the Bawnogue Shopping Centre in Clondalkin at around 11.20am this morning.

Two men approached a cash-in-transit worker as he was making a delivery to a premises - and threatened him with what was described as a handgun - before making off in a waiting Hyundai Santa Fe SUV with around €50,000.

But two Garda officers passing by on patrol spotted the SUV speeding out of the car park and chased it around 2km to Kilmahuddrick.

The gang abandoned the Hyundai, the stolen cash and the handgun before fleeing the scene on foot.

However, the gardaí were able to catch one of the suspects who was arrested at the scene.

A quantity of cash and a firearm were also recovered.

The man, aged in his 30s, is being held at Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

Gardaí are appealing to any witnesses to the incident to contact them.