A man threatened to shoot a garda who tried to arrest him after he robbed the National Irish Bank on College Green of more than €17,000 last January, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
Jason Flynn (29), of Slieve Na More, Drimnagh - a chronic heroin addict who lost both his parents to drug-related illnesses - pleaded guilty to robbing the National Irish Bank (NIB) of €17,332 on January 28th last.
Judge Frank O'Donnell remanded Flynn in custody for sentence on October 18th next when a victim impact report will be furnished to the court on effects of the armed robbery on bank staff.
Judge O'Donnell commended the "extraordinary bravery" of Garda William O'Dwyer of Pearse Street Garda Station in arresting Flynn while he was apparently armed and threatening to shoot.
Garda O'Dwyer said Flynn and an accomplice entered NIB around 3:20 p.m. that afternoon, after "happening upon it" and seeing the relatively small number of staff on duty. Flynn was carrying an imitation handgun. He was also wearing a ski mask and gloves. They entered the bank through the side door and made their way to the front of a till.
He began shouting at the staff to get down and brandished the gun. He then jumped on the top of the counter and took money from the till. The bank clerk manning the counter was frightened and unable to move as he collected the money from her till and others.
Garda O'Dwyer and his colleague Garda Ciara Lynch were in front of the bank at the time. A woman knocked on the window of their car and told them an armed robbery was taking place.
Both gardaí entered the bank and saw the men leaving. They chased both men down Anglesea Street, Fleet Street and into the Temple Bar Area. From there the men turned into the quays and headed towards Hackney Bridge. Garda O'Dwyer caught both men on the bridge and managed to detain them.