Is there a political significance to the armed raid on the Drogheda pub and restaurant owned by the Minister for Defence Paddy Donegan?
The Monasterboice Inn restaurant and public house near Drogheda in County Louth is a popular stopping off point people travelling on the main Dublin - Belfast Road.
The premises was busy when four unmasked raiders, two men and two women, walked in just before closing time.
The men took up position, one just inside the door the other at the far wall, they then produced pistols.
According to An Garda Síochána the raiders told customers and staff,
Stay quiet this is a raid.
The two female raiders went to the two cash registers and stuffed the takings from the bar and restaurant into a bag. They are believed to have got away with more than £600.
As the raiders left one of them shouted,
No one is to leave the premises for five minutes or they will be shot.
The raid was over in a few seconds and before anyone could alert the gardaí on duty at Paddy Donegan’s house nearby. The Minister for Defence was not present in the Monasterboice Inn when the raid occurred as he was canvassing for the Senate elections in the Republic of Ireland.
The question being asked is whether the robbery had a political significance due to the Minister’s strong law and order statements. The robbery may have been by some illegal organisation showing its contempt, or it could be just another run of the mill robbery. An Garda Síochána are keeping an open mind on the matter.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 April 1973. The reporter is Tom McCaughren.
