CCTV footage of armed robbery at Offaly pharmacy shown in court

A MAN pointed a shotgun at staff and a customer in a Tullamore pharmacy, the local District Court was told.

The court heard that Philip Maguire (37), St Columba's Place, Tullamore, was apprehended by a garda shortly after allegedly robbing McCormack Pharmacy, Kilbeggan Bridge, Arden Road, Tullamore on October 22 last.

Mr Maguire is accused of robbing €530 cash in notes of €50, €20 and €10, plus medication to the value of €192.

Evidence which will be given by gardai in the man's prosecution was given when a bail application came before Judge Andrew Cody.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns said he had not yet received directions from the DPP and optimistically, he said it would be two weeks before he had them.

Judge Cody noted Mr Maguire had been in custody since October 23 and David Nugent, BL, defending, formally told the court he would be applying for bail and would be seeking to have the man admitted to the care of the psychiatric services.

Garda Alan Mills said he was objecting to bail and presented CCTV footage of a robbery at the pharmacy on October 22.

Garda Mills said the man entered the premises at 4.16pm with his hood up, his face covered, wearing gloves and holding a firearm.

He pointed the firearm at a member of staff and sought drugs and cash. He also pointed the firearm at a customer, putting both women in fear.

He had a bag and produced a note at the counter, demanding a large amount of prescription drugs and all the cash in the till.

The garda added that the man was originally from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford but was resident in St Columba's Place, Tullamore at the time of the offence.

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Garda Mills said he was on patrol on the Arden Road at the time of the offence and stopped outside McCormack Pharmacy and heard an alarm go off.

The accused man attempted to abscond by running along the side of the pharmacy and hit Garda Mills on the head before he was apprehended about 30 metres away.

A laptop bag found on the man contained a knife, cash and prescribed drugs.

The manager of the pharmacy identified Mr Maguire and the cash and drugs which had been taken and when interviewed, the man made full admissions to entering the premises with the firearm, Garda Mills said.

CCTV footage indicated the accused man left the pharmacy at 4.18pm. Garda Mills said he was arrested at 4.20pm.

Questioned by Mr Nugent, the garda added that the firearm, which was described in court as “the stock of a gun”, had been sent to ballistics to see if it was capable of being fired.

Asked if the accused suffered from schizophrenia, Garda Mills said the man stated during the interview that he believed he suffered from memory loss and heard voices in his head.

Mr Nugent said his client was suffering from a psychiatric illness and needed to be assessed.

Judge Andrew Cody said he would remand the accused in custody because it appeared he had made admissions and the evidence against him was strong.

Though he was remanded in custody with consent to bail until December 10, when he will appear in court by video link, unless he is receiving medical treatment.

The judge said he can be released to a bed in a recognised psychiatric unit and delivered there by the Prison Service.