An armed gang wearing masks drove a getaway motorcycle into the kitchen of the Coachman's Inn near Dublin Airport during a robbery attempt, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told yesterday.
The four-man gang tied up five staff preparing breakfast at 8 a.m. but were seen entering the inn by a civilian who contacted gardai. The gang fled using the motorcycle and a car. Gary Bryan, the pillion passenger, was arrested a short distance away. Bryan (22), of Kiltilawn Close, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to being armed with a sawn-off air rifle on April 17th, 1997, with intent to rob and with falsely imprisoning a man.
Mr Michael O'Higgins, defending, said Bryan had developed a £100-a-day cocaine habit which led him into this crime. He was remanded for sentence on December 16th.