A man charged with taking more than 200 diamond rings and 32 Rolex watches during a robbery at a Galway jewellers has denied any involvement in the incident and said he came to Ireland days before for no reason.
Irmantas Paulauskas (38), of no fixed abode, was wrestled to the ground by detectives and members of the public on Middle Street after an armed four-man gang robbed €1.1 million worth of stock from Hartmann jewellers on William Street on February 11th, 2015.
Mr Paulauskas has pleaded not guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of 208 diamond rings and 32 Rolex watches. He also denies having an imitation pistol with a silencer fitted, in his possession with intent to commit robbery on the same date.
Det Sgt John McElroy told the court he interviewed Mr Paulauskas three times after his arrest, and that he maintained at all times that he had been kidnapped and refused to acknowledge he had been arrested.
He denied any involvement in the robbery and said he arrived in Ireland "for no reason" a couple of days before on a ferry from France. He said he travelled alone and took a bus to Galway on February 11th last year, with €35 on him.
He also denied knowing three other Lithuanian men who were arrested with him.
In a second interview, Mr Paulauskas told gardaí he did not think they were the police. “I am imagining I am kidnapped. I will not accept I am in a police station.”
Det Sgt McElroy said he asked Mr Paulauskas if people in Lithuania had promised him €20,000 to carry out the robbery.
“I was promised nothing,” he replied.
Mr Paulauskas also denied traveling from Denmark in a van a week before the robbery took place. His clothes were taken from him after his arrest, but he denied they were his when later shown to him at the Garda station.
He was also shown video footage of the robbery in progress, taken from inside the shop, and denied he was pointing a gun at staff.
Mr Bernard Madden SC, defending, said his client would not give evidence.
Closing speeches will be heard on Wednesday.