COPS CLOSE IN ON BOOKIES RAIDERS
One of thugs tackled by 83-year-old hero Denis ‘identified on CCTV’
GARDAI are close to identifying one of the raiders stopped in their tracks by a plucky pensioner during a botched robbery at a bookies.
Three armed men burst into Bar One Racing in Glanmire, Co Cork, on Saturday in a smash-and-grab attempt.
But they weren’t counting on 83-yearold hero Denis O’connor being there.
And along with manager Tim Murphy, he sent the hammer-wielding gang packing.
Yesterday Denis revealed that as one of the thugs pointed a sawn-off shotgun at his head he shouted, “Ye’re cowards”.
Detectives have now examined CCTV footage of the incident and believe at least one of the men is identifiable.
A source said: “This isn’t the first time this group would have committed crime – they would be known.
“They are not the brightest and there is a bit in one of the videos where the face of one of them can be seen.
“This has been circulated to gardai around the country and the investigators are looking for nominations to identify this man.
“They are confident of making arrests.” CCTV images of the terrifying raid have gone viral. They show one of the men jump over the counter while another comes around from the side, threatening Mr Murphy with a hammer.
But their plans were foiled by Denis who teamed up with the manager to chase all three out. Mr Murphy told The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s REDFM yesterday: “The noise was incredible, they were just roaring and bashed hammers. “They wanted the safe money, they weren’t interested in the €5 or €10 bills in the till. They were shouting, ‘We want the safe, we want the safe’.
“I was just being threatened by the two fellas with the hammers but then Denis tackled one and I just said, I kind of have to tackle this fella now as well. I just tried to grab the hammer.”
A Garda spokesman told the Irish Mirror: “Gardai in Glanmire are investigating an attempted robbery of a bookmakers at Crestfield, Glanmire, at approximately 6.30pm on September 15.
“Three males wearing balaclavas entered the premises. Following a struggle, they left empty-handed in a waiting black car.”