Courts / Dublin / Report

"Violent and frenzied" robbery accused must be "desperately unlucky" if innocent, prosecution say

Summary

A man accused of armed robbery at a Dublin post office in January 2016 has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Keith Murtagh, aged 34, is charged with robbing €3,174.54 from Roebuck post office on Farmhill Road, Goatstown, along with possession of a shotgun and shotgun cartridge. The prosecution alleges that two armed men arrived in a blue Subaru Impreza and demanded money and safe access, with one discharging a shotgun at the counter. The State's case relies partly on forensic evidence: tracksuit trousers found in a Renault Scenic vehicle, in which Mr Murtagh was a passenger days later, contained glass fragments matching those from the post office counter. A shotgun cartridge recovered from the abandoned getaway vehicle bore the defendant's DNA. The defence argues the evidence is circumstantial and suggests confirmation bias in the investigation. The trial before Judge Melanie Greally continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Violent and frenzied" robbery accused must be "desperately unlucky" if innocent, prosecution say. Charges or matters: robbery of €3,174.54, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• January 5, 2016 Incident
• 2019-07-11 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report