Gardaí investigate €1m diamond robbery at hotel

GARDAÍ WERE last night trying to establish how an armed gang came to know that a man staying at a north Dublin hotel was in possession of jewellery and diamonds valued at as much as €1 million.

Three men forced their way into the room of the English diamond dealer at the Travelodge hotel on Shangan Road in Ballymun in the early hours of yesterday morning and removed a suitcase containing the diamonds.

Gardaí investigating the aggravated burglary said gang members were armed with a hammer and a handgun and were wearing balaclavas.

The gang entered the 64-year- old man’s room at about 12.15am and assaulted him with the hammer before leaving with the merchandise. A Garda spokesman declined to confirm the value of the items stolen other than to say it was substantial.

However, sources have suggested the haul of jewellery and diamonds may be worth between €750,000 and €1 million.

The injured man pursued the robbers out of the hotel and on to Shangan Road in the middle of Ballymun.

At that point he contacted gardaí but the assailants had managed to escape in the direction of a flats complex before officers reached the scene.

The man was taken to the Mater hospital to be treated for lacerations to the head. His injuries were described as not serious and he was released yesterday afternoon.

The Travelodge hotel said no one was available to comment on the incident yesterday.

Gardaí from Ballymun are investigating the incident. They last night provided descriptions of the three men believed to have been involved in the robbery.

The first man was described as being 175cm (5ft 9in) tall and of thin build. He was wearing a grey tracksuit top.

The second man was said to be a similar height and wore a black and white top with a zigzag design.

The third man was described as being 182cm (6ft) tall and also of thin build. Investigators believe he was directing the operation.

Garda sources last night said a number of lines of inquiry were being followed.

Investigators are said to be trying to establish why the man brought such a quantity of jewellery and diamonds to Ireland.

They are also investigating why they were not stored in a safe or a secure place, how the armed gang knew to target him and how they located his room.

A Garda spokesman said that even though it occurred after midnight, there should have been a number of witness to the incident as the man pursued the gang into a busy area.

Anyone who witnessed any suspicious behaviour or who may have information about the robbery is asked to contact Ballymun Garda station on 01-666 4400 or call the Garda confidential line on 1800-666 111.