Gang robs two shops in 15 minutes

Two shops on the outskirts of Mullingar were robbed by a three man gang in a little over a quarter of an hour on Saturday evening.

At around 7.40pm on Saturday evening, three males entered the Irishtown Filling Station in Rathgowan. The trio, who were armed with weapons including what appeared to be a baseball bat, threatened staff before making off with a quantity of cigarettes and cash.

From there the gang, who were driving a stolen light purple colour Toyota Vitz that was taken from a housing estate in Mullingar at around 2.45am on Saturday morning, made their way to the Village Green shop in Ballinea. At around 7.55pm, two of the males entered the shop and threatened staff before once again making off with a quantity of money and cigarettes.

Less than an hour after the robbery in Ballinea, Gardaí received reports of a car on fire in Barley Hill, Kilbeggan. The fire was extinguished by members of the local fire services and the car was confirmed to be the vehicle used in the robberies.

Gardaí in Mullingar are appealing for any witnesses to any of these incidents to come forward, including any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Abbeylands area of Mullingar in the early hours of Saturday, or in the Irishtown and Ballinea areas of Mullingar between 7pm and 8.30pm, to make this footage available to them.

Gardaí are also appealing to any road users who may have camera footage and were in the Barley Hill area of Kilbeggan between 8pm and 8.45pm on Saturday to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mullingar Garda Station on 044 938400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.