'Hero' jeweller grabs raider's loaded shotgun and foils heist
Garda forensic officer at Dawson Jewellers in Dublin
Saturday November 07 2009
Jeweller Ken McDonagh turned the tables on three armed thugs as they were plundering his premises yesterday -- and left one of them seriously ill in hospital.
Ken sprang into action after one of the raiders grabbed his wife Fiona around the throat and held her at gunpoint.
He tackled the 34-year-old thug, who was brandishing a loaded sawn-off shotgun.
During a struggle, in Dawson Jewellers' store on Dawson Street in Dublin's city centre, he disarmed the gunman -- and then in an attempt to defend himself and his wife, struck the criminal with the weapon on the head.
Meanwhile, shop staff had pressed the panic button to alert gardai.
Following the struggle, one of the raiders ran empty-handed from the shop but was spotted by a motorist who was stopped in traffic.
The motorist jumped out of his car and tripped the fleeing raider who fell to the ground.
He was held there as gardai arrived on the scene.
Armed detectives later burst into the shop and detained the third member of the gang.
Terrifying
All three are from the north inner city and are well known to gardai.
They have been linked by gardai in the past to a series of robberies in the capital and elsewhere.
The injured raider, who is on bail in connection with a robbery in south-east Leinster, was taken by ambulance to St James's Hospital but was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he underwent emergency treatment for a suspected fractured skull. The two other suspects, aged 41 and 26 years, were arrested and last night were being questioned at Pearse Street garda station under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
The pair can be held without charge for up to three days.
One of the detained suspects is closely related to the injured man.
The terrifying ordeal for the McDonagh family started around 12.45pm, shortly after a man had walked into the store and began looking at trays of rings.
Two other men, one armed with the shotgun, then burst into the premises and threatened the McDonagh couple and two other members of staff.
The raiders then began loading jewellery from the display cabinets into a sports bag.
But unknown to the gang, one of the staff had pressed the panic button and garda patrols quickly sped to the scene.
One patrol raced up Dawson Street against the traffic, while a second unit arrived from St Stephen's Green; and both patrols halted outside the store as the passing motorist was "taking down" the fleeing raider.
But before the gardai had arrived on the scene, one of the gang had grabbed Mrs McDonagh around the neck.
Her husband dashed to her aid, grabbing the loaded gun from the raider's grasp and tussling with him until he released the frightened woman.
Bravery
Mr McDonagh, who is in his early 40s and lives in south Dublin, was last night hailed for his bravery by staff in adjoining business premises.
Michael O'Reilly, who works in Reds hairdressing salon, said Mr McDonagh was a "street hero" and "that it was time that somebody had a go at the thugs".
The jewellery store was closed for the afternoon as garda forensic experts carried out a detailed examination of the premises. Detectives from Pearse Street garda station interviewed the McDonaghs and the rest of the staff.
In August last year a smash-and-grab cyclist made off with jewellery worth up to €100,000 when he shattered the front window of the fashionable store.
The raider posed as a bicycle courier and startled shoppers as he smashed the window and removed the haul, which was comprised mainly of watches.
- Tom Brady Security Editor
Irish Independent
