Gardai arrest man and seize replica firearm

GARDAI arrested a man and seized a replica firearm following two incidents of attempted robbery in St Catherine’s Park, Lucan at lunchtime on Wednesday.

At approximately 1pm yesterday, Wednesday, December 22, a man was walking in St Catherine’s Park when he was threatened by a man who was holding a suspected firearm and demanded the keys to his vehicle. The man did not comply and the suspect fled the scene.

A short time later, the suspect approached a female walking in St Catherine’s Park and produced the suspected firearm while demanding the keys to her vehicle. The female did not comply and the suspect fled the scene.

A garda statement released said: “Gardai were alerted to the incidents and a search was conducted of the area by local Gardai with assistance from the Armed Support Unit.

“The offending man was located and arrested in the vicinity of St Catherine’s Park and taken to Lucan Garda Station where he is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939.”

A replica airsoft pistol and knife were seized by investigating Gardai for a technical examination.

UPDATE; Gardai have since confirmed that the man arrested in relation to two incidents of attempted robbery in St Catherine’s Park, Lucan yesterday, Wednesday, December 22, 2021 has been charged.

He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Thursday evening, 23rd December 2021.