Two uniformed community gardai chased and arrested two armed raiders after they tried to rob a building society in north Co Dublin yesterday. The incident happened around noon when the two men, aged 20 and 21, walked into the Irish Permanent Building Society in Malahide wearing balaclavas and carrying sawn-off shotguns.
Garda Tom Lehane and Garda Paddy O'Hara, who were on duty in a patrol car, followed the raiders into the building.
One of the men pointed his shotgun at Garda O'Hara and told him to back off. Then the two men ran out of the building and got into a black Lexus car. The gardai pursued the raiders car for a mile until it lost control and was grounded in the sand at the Swords estuary. The men ran away and were chased by the gardai, who caught and arrested them.
One shotgun, which was loaded, and a quantity of ammunition were seized and a search is going on for the second gun, which may have been thrown into the estuary.
A Garda spokesman said no shots were fired and the raiders failed to get any money. The two men, from the East Wall area of Dublin, were being questioned under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act in Malahide Garda station last night. They can be held for up to 48 hours.
