A MAN was jailed for eight years for his part in a raid on a post office last year in which a shotgun blast blew a hole in a security screen.
Mark Dignam (20), of Champions Avenue, Dublin, was arrested by gardai within minutes of the robbery at Marino Mart Post Office on November 11th, 1995, when he and a co accused came out of nearby Fairview Park. Gardai recovered masks and £6,000 hidden in the park.
Del Sgt Mathias Kinihan told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the elderly post mistress would normally have been standing at the spot where the shot passed the screen, but staff and customers had been made lie down.
Del Sgt Kinihan told Ms Miriam Malone BL, prosecuting, that Dignam and another man on a motorcycle took part in the Marino raid. A total of £9.390 was taken by the gang, but over £2,600 fell from Dignam's clothing as he left the post office.
Dignam was also given a concurrent eight year sentence for an armed robbery of Skerries AIB branch on March 30th, 1995. He had 10 previous convictions.
Dignam was in a getaway car which drove at high speed through a checkpoint in north Dublin after the Skerries crime. He pleaded guilty to both offences.
Det Sgt Joseph Kelly, of Skerries Garda station, described how a gun was put to the assistant manager's head in the Skerries bank raid. Three handbags belonging to staff members were also taken by the gang. Two stolen Honda Civic cars were used.
Del Sgt Kelly said that shortly after the raid the gang were seen transferring from a red Honda Civic to a white Civic. Gardai chased them through north Co Dublin.
The gang drove through one roadblock to another checkpoint at Ballyboughal, and shots were fired by gardai when what seemed to be a gun was pointed from the Honda. After a further chase they were arrested and masks, imitation guns, the money and handbags were recovered.