A man has gone on trial charged with the robbery of an estimated €1.1 million worth of jewellery from a Galway city jewellers.
Irmantas Paulauskas, 38, pleaded not guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court this morning to the robbery of diamond rings and Rolex watches from Richard Hartmann of William Street on 11 February 2015.
When a second charge was put to him, that he had in his possession an imitation pistol with a silencer fitted, with the intent to commit robbery, he replied through a Lithuanian interpreter: "I didn't have any firearm."
Judge Rory McCabe asked the accused to clarify if he was pleading guilty or not guilty to the charge, to which he replied: "Not guilty."
Prosecuting barrister Conor Fahy informed the jury panel that Mr Hartmann, eleven of his staff, and numerous other civilian and garda witnesses would be giving evidence.
A jury of 11 men and one woman was empanelled this morning to hear evidence in the trial, which is expected to last two weeks.
