A former captain of the Irish under-16 soccer team who threatened four gardai with a gun during a motorcycle chase has been given a four-year suspended sentence. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Liam Greenhalgh robbed two shops at gunpoint and then threatened a garda who walked into the second shop. He and a co-accused fled on a stolen motorcycle and later crashed into a Garda van. Greenhalgh threatened three gardai with the gun, but was overpowered.
Greenhalgh (20), of Dromard Road, Drimnagh, and Liam Byrne (19), of Raleigh Square, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon with intent to rob, and to robbery at Clanbrassil Street and South Circular Road, Dublin, all on July 18th, 1998.