An off-duty garda in Meath managed to foil a cash van robbery in Rathoath yesterday.
A security man collecting cash at a shopping centre in the village was approached by a man - brandishing what looked like a firearm - shortly after noon.
The man, who was dressed in black, demanded the cash box and fled the scene in a waiting grey Renault Kangoo van being driven by a second man. The van was driven off in speed.
An off-duty garda who witnessed the incident followed the van into a nearby housing estate, where he boxed the van in with his own car and confronted the men.
Following a brief standoff, the firearm was pointed at the garda, before the men dropped the cashbox and fled through nearby fields. A search is now underway for the two men.
During a follow-up search of a house at Streamstown, Ratoath, items of black clothing, which Gardaí believe were associated with the robbery, were recovered.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ashbourne garda station.
File picture of garda search above
