Gardaí have arrested four men in connection with the armed robbery of a jewellery shop in Galway.
A “substantial” amount of jewellery, including watches, was recovered as part of the investigation into the raid at Hartmann’s jewellers on William Street.
The incident occurred at about 10.45 am when four masked men entered the shop, one of whom was described as carrying a firearm.
Staff were threatened and jewellery, including watches, was taken. No physical injuries were sustained during the incident, according to gardaí.
The four men fled on foot from the area. Gardaí were alerted and arrested two men near the scene and two men near the city bus station.
The four are being held at Galway Garda Station for questioning under section 4 of the 1984 Criminal Justice Act.
Gardaí say that all property taken from the jewellers’ shop was recovered, along with an imitation firearm.
CCTV footage will be examined as part of the investigation.
An armed robbery took place in the same jewellery shop in November 2008, when watches valued at more than 100,000 euro were taken.
Two of three armed and masked men were given ten year sentences for their part in the raid on November 28th, 2008, when three female staff and one customer were ordered to lie on the floor.