Gun Fired In Store As Brave Jeweller Fights Off Raiders

Published on 21/04/11

A garda van parked outside Tadgh O'Flynn Jewellers in Nenagh, Co Tipperary yesterday. Brian Arthur /Press22

A BRAVE jeweller fought off two armed raiders, forcing them to flee his family business empty-handed yesterday.

Tadgh O'Flynn Jnr (29) last night told how he wrestled with the two robbers who tried to steal jewellery including diamond rings from his father's business in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

During the struggle, in front of two frightened customers, a gunshot was discharged into a wall at the Mitchel Street jewellers. The drama in the north Tipperary town unfolded yesterday morning at 11.15am.

"I was downstairs with two customers. An assistant was upstairs working when they came in. It all happened so fast -- it was all over within a minute or so," said the goldsmith.

"There were two of them. They had their faces covered with balaclavas and hoods pulled up so you couldn't see who they were.

"When they came in, they went straight around the counter for the diamond rings. They knew what they were going after all right -- they had their homework done," Mr O'Flynn said.

"I grabbed one of them when he came around the counter -- it was just an instinctive reaction