Armed Robber Jailed for IRA Claims During Post Office Hold-Up

UPDATE: A man has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison after attempting to rob a post office in Clonmany, Co Donegal, while claiming to be affiliated with the IRA. Barry Reddan, aged 65, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted robbery during a hearing at Letterkenny Circuit Court earlier today.

On November 11, 2020, Reddan entered the post office armed with a gun and threatened post-mistress Mary Brennan. He shouted, “Hand the money over, I’m from the IRA,” instilling fear in Ms. Brennan, who described the harrowing encounter as she backed away, trying to escape the situation. She managed to activate a panic alarm and retreated to the kitchen area of the office, where she locked the door behind her.

The court heard that Reddan’s actions left Ms. Brennan terrified, as he pointed the weapon at her, his finger twitching on the trigger. Despite his threats, she bravely refused to hand over any money, stating, “You’re getting no money.” Reddan fled the scene empty-handed, prompting a swift investigation by Gardaí.

Detective Garda Jason Conroy testified that CCTV footage helped identify a white Ford Fiesta van linked to Reddan. Although an attempt was made to obscure the vehicle’s license plate, it had been previously stopped for a broken brake light by officers. No money was taken during the robbery attempt, and Reddan has no prior convictions.

During sentencing, Judge John Aylmer emphasized the emotional impact on Ms. Brennan, noting she had worked for An Post for 40 years and had never experienced anything like this. Reddan expressed remorse, stating, “I don’t know why I did it… I’m so sorry to that woman.” He offered her €5,000 as a token of his regret.

In his ruling, Judge Aylmer acknowledged that the incident fell at the upper end of the mid-range for such offenses. Initially recommending an eight-year sentence, he ultimately reduced it to five and a half years, suspending the last 12 months due to Reddan’s lack of previous criminal history and low risk of reoffending.

The judge highlighted Ms. Brennan’s bravery and fortitude in refusing to comply with the demands of her attacker. Reddan, a father of four and grandfather to eight, expressed deep shame for his actions, leaving the court with a sense of the profound human consequences of violence and desperation.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the community responds to the sentencing and the implications of this attempted robbery.