I just wanted to hurt them, says store owner after armed robbery

[comment] Pic: Frank Greaney/Twitter [/comment]

One of the owners of a jewellery shop on Aungier Street in Dublin city centre says he tried to fight off an armed robber as his store was held up yesterday.

Up to €25,000 worth of rings were taken when two masked men burst into Greenes jewellers just after 5pm.

Both were wearing high-vis jackets and one of them was wearing a blue hard hat.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Co-owner Karl Ryan says he tried to defend his shop before he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.

"Looking back on it, it was scary," he said.

"Obviously I was shaken after it, but my initial reaction .. I mean, I picked up my chair and threw it at him.

"I just wanted to hurt them, I suppose, because they were robbing what's mine.

"But [it was] probably a bit stupid, thinking about it."