A DUBLIN drug addict, whose attempt to rob a Galway bank armed with an imitation gun was foiled by an off-duty Garda superintendent, was sentenced to four years in prison yesterday.
Darren Maples (38), a father of four, Macroom Road, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of the Bank of Ireland, Main Street, Loughrea, Co Galway, on October 6th, 2006, when he appeared before Galway District Court.
Sentencing of his co-accused, Des Murphy (37), River Valley Grove, Swords, Co Dublin, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge, has been deferred to July 10th while he completes his treatment for heroin addiction.
Det Garda Kieran McNamara said the pair claimed they were on their way to the Bons Secours hospital, Galway, where Murphy had an appointment to have tattoos removed, when they decided on the spur of the moment to rob the bank as it was about to close.
Armed with two toy revolvers and heavily disguised with hoods covering their faces, they terrorised staff and 30 customers. Maples kept a lookout while Murphy went to the foreign exchange counter and demanded money by pointing a gun at the cashier.
Off-duty superintendent Enda Walsh, who happened to be standing at the top of the queue, immediately overpowered Murphy with the help of an unnamed retired Garda sergeant and another customer who happened to be a martial arts expert.
Maples fled when he saw Murphy being restrained on the floor but he was arrested six hours later at Kilreekil about five miles from Loughrea.
The court heard yesterday that Maples had 28 previous convictions, mostly for larcenies, and is currently serving a two-year sentence.
That sentence had initially been suspended in 2006 but was activated last November when he reoffended in the interim.
He is currently attending a course in drug awareness in Mountjoy Prison and has expressed a wish to become a drugs counsellor.