A robber jailed for 7 1/2 years fired a blank round through a post office letter box when a customer closed it, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told yesterday.
The fleeing raiders took Pounds 1,100 from a post office customer on their way out after first running into the sorting office in panic.
Stephen Doherty and an accomplice were arrested later returning to their hidden motorcycle. Doherty later took gardai to a hiding place and handed over his share of the stolen money, a starting pistol and a radio scanner.
Doherty (22), of St Marks Drive, Dublin, pleaded guilty to his role in the armed robberies of post offices at Blessington, Co Wicklow, and Dunboyne, Co Meath, and to attempted robbery at Ballydowd on dates in May and August 1994 and March 1995.