Courts / Dublin / Report

Bank robber rumbled after leaving ID close to scene

Date
2020-07-28

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a robbery at the Allied Irish Bank on Westmoreland Street, Dublin, 34‑year‑old Gareth Flynn demanded €14,000, threatened to shoot if the panic alarm was pressed, and fled after the alarm was triggered. He later left Ireland but returned to the Garda station in November, where he admitted the crime and was found attempting to hide Zopiclone tablets in his trousers. Flynn's bag, found near the scene, contained his clothes and a work pass with his photo. He pleaded guilty to robbery, threat to kill or cause serious injury, and possession of drugs. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 40 months' imprisonment, noting Flynn's remorse and the lack of pre‑planning. The case highlighted Flynn's troubled background and the ease of his detection due to his own mistakes.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bank robber rumbled after leaving ID close to scene. Charges or matters: robbery and threat to kill or cause serious injury at the AIB, in Westmoreland Street on October 10, 2019; possession of drugs at the garda station on November 22, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 10, 2019 Incident
November 22, 2019 Incident
2020-07-28 Publication

Case subjects

Gareth Flynn

Defendant

Charges: robbery and threat to kill or cause serious injury at the AIB, in Westmoreland Street on October 10, 2019; possession of drugs at the garda station on November 22, 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He took into account Flynn's difficult background and the fact that he is now getting on "very well" in prison. "He needs to see sense at this stage in his life," Judge Nolan said, before he jailed Flynn for 40 months.