THREE MEN remained in Garda custody yesterday in connection with an attempted robbery at an Enfield hotel in Co Meath where a night porter was threatened with a screwdriver and tied up.
Three men wearing scarves over their faces entered the Marriott Johnstown House Hotel at about 4.45am yesterday and accosted the night porter, demanding that he hand over the keys to a safe. The porter was tied up.
It is understood Enfield gardaí were on patrol in the area and spotted the raiders in the hotel lobby. The raiders fled as they saw the officers arrive.
A man in his 30s was arrested in the vicinity of the hotel, while two others fled the scene. Several Garda units conducted an extensive search of the area and two men in their 30s were arrested on the railway line between Enfield and Kilcock at about 8am and were being questioned.
A 35-year-old man was detained in Trim Garda station for questioning and two 36-year-old men were questioned in Navan and Kells Garda stations. They were being held under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, which means they can be held for 24 hours before they must be released or charged.
All three men are believed to be from the Dublin area and are understood to be known to gardaí.
It is understood about €10,000 was taken in the raid but this was recovered by gardaí.
The night porter was not injured, although he was shaken by the ordeal.
The general manager of the Marriott Johnstown House Hotel, David Hennessy, said concern for the staff member was their initial priority and, while the staff member involved was shaken, he was not injured.
“The training and security system we have in place in the event of something like this happening kicked in and the action taken by the staff member was exactly what should be done in the circumstances.”
Mr Hennessy added that gardaí were quickly on the scene and were in a position to pick up one of the suspects.
“The main thing is nobody was injured. Our procedures kicked in and they didn’t get anything,” he said.
Meanwhile, local councillor and chairman of Meath County Council William Carey has praised gardaí for their quick response in apprehending the three suspects.
“I would like to compliment the gardaí on their quick action resulting in the arrest of three men.”