Prompt Garda action foils Enfield hotel robbery

Three men arrested in connection with a foiled raid at an Enfield hotel where a night porter was threatened with a screwdriver and tied up have been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Three men who were wearing scarves over their faces entered the Marriott Johnstown House Hotel at around 4.45am on Monday morning and accosted the night porter. They demanded that he hand over the keys to a safe in a strongroom on the premises and tied him up. Gardai who noticed suspicious activity in the area arrived on the scene while the raiders were still there. It is understood that Enfield Gardai were on patrol in the area and spotted the raiders in the lobby of the hotel. The raiders fled the scene as they saw the Gardai arrive. A male in his 30s was arrested in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, while two others fled the scene on foot. Gardai from Trim, Enfield, as well as officers from the Organised Crime Unit, the armed Regional Response Unit and the Garda Air Support Unit conducted an extensive search of the area. Two men in their 30s were arrested on the railway line between Enfield and Kilcock at around 8am on Monday morning and were questioned but later released. The 35-year-old male and two 36-year-old males were held under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act in Trim, Navan and Kells Garda Stations but were all released without charge in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday) morning. A file is being prepared for the DPP. All three are believed to be from the Dublin area and were known to Gardai. The night porter was not injured although he was shaken by the ordeal. It is understood that in the region of €10,000 was taken in the raid but this cash was recovered by Gardai. General manager of the Marriott Johnstown House Hotel, David Hennessy, said that concern for the staff member was their initial priority and, while the staff member involved was shaken, he was not injured for which they were thankful. "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," said Mr Hennessy. The manager added that Gardai 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 added. Meanwhile local councillor and chairman of Meath County Council, William Carey, praised Gardai for their quick response and speed in apprehending the three suspects. "I would like to compliment the Gardai on their quick action, resulting in the arrest of three men," he said.