Jury convicts man of "violent and frenzied" post office raid

A Dublin man has been convicted of armed robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a trial spanning ten days. Keith Murtagh, aged 34, was found guilty on all three charges relating to a post office raid on Farmhill Road, Goatstown on January 5, 2016. The jury returned unanimous verdicts after deliberating for just under four hours. Murtagh had pleaded not guilty to the robbery of €3,174.54, possession of a shotgun, and possession of a shotgun cartridge. Evidence presented included DNA found on a shotgun cartridge recovered from an abandoned vehicle 400 metres from the post office. Forensic analysis also identified glass fragments matching material from the post office counter on clothing discovered in a separate vehicle. The court heard the raid involved two armed men who discharged a shot during the incident. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 18, with Murtagh remanded in custody pending that date.