Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 8912Robbery · Co. Offaly

Man remanded for sentencing over Tullamore pharmacy shotgun robbery

On October 22 at about 4.10pm, a man entered McCormack's Pharmacy in Kilbeggan Bridge, Tullamore, County Offaly, handed in a handwritten list of medications and demanded cash, and left with €530 cash and €192 worth of medication. The victims named in the case record are Annette Donlon Nestor, Nicole Cromack, Irene Macken and Marie Delaney, staff and a customer at the pharmacy, and the man is Philip Maguire (37). A garda tackled and arrested him outside the pharmacy, and at the Circuit Court on June 26, 2026 he pleaded guilty to robbery and to possessing a shotgun with intent to commit robbery, with a knife charge and a resisting-gardaí charge to be taken into consideration. On June 27, 2026 the judge remanded him in custody to November 17 for a forensic psychiatric report before sentencing, and the maximum sentence available is life in prison.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court27 Jun
  5. Convicted26 Jun
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man robbed McCormack's Pharmacy in Tullamore, frightening staff and a customer, and left with €530 cash and €192 worth of medication.
Where
The robbery took place at McCormack's Pharmacy, Kilbeggan Bridge, Tullamore, County Offaly.
When
The robbery took place at about 4.10pm on October 22, while a pharmacy technician manager was dealing with customers. The year is not given.
Cause
The robber handed in a handwritten list of medications and demanded cash.
Weapon
The robber was armed with a shotgun, described in one account as the base of a sawn-off shotgun.
Investigation
  • A garda tackled the man outside the pharmacy and arrested him, and the accused admitted the offence when interviewed.
  • Garda ballistics examined the firearm and found it in poor condition and unable to function.
Charges
  • Philip Maguire pleaded guilty to robbing €530 cash and €192 worth of medication at the pharmacy, and admitted possessing a shotgun with intent to commit robbery and having it to prevent his arrest.
  • Charges of possessing a knife and resisting a garda were to be taken into consideration.
In court
  • Maguire was subject to a six-year suspended sentence for robbery when the offence occurred, and the court was told he had 58 previous convictions.
  • Maguire was remanded in custody to November 17 for a forensic psychiatric report before sentencing.
Sentence
The maximum sentence available to the court is life in prison.
Other details
  • Victim impact statements described nightmares, panic attacks and ongoing fear among staff and a customer, and the judge said the victims had symptoms similar to post traumatic stress disorder.
  • A probation report assessed Maguire as low risk of reoffending in the next 12 months, and the judge praised the garda who tackled the robber.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man robbed McCormack's Pharmacy in Tullamore and left with €530 cash and €192 worth of medication. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man frightened staff and a customer and left with €530 cash and €192 worth of medication. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe robbery took place at McCormack's Pharmacy in Kilbeggan Bridge, Tullamore. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe robbery took place at about 4.10pm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe robbery happened when a pharmacy technician manager was dealing with customers at 4.10pm on October 22. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe robber handed in a handwritten list of medications and demanded cash. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe robber had the base of a sawn-off shotgun. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe robber was armed with a shotgun. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA garda tackled the man outside the pharmacy and arrested him. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe firearm was examined by garda ballistics and found to be in poor condition and unable to function. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe accused admitted the offence to gardaí when interviewed after his arrest. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeMaguire pleaded guilty to robbing €530 cash and €192 worth of medication at the pharmacy. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeMaguire admitted possessing a shotgun with intent to commit robbery and having it to prevent his arrest. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeCharges of possessing a knife and resisting a garda were to be taken into consideration. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe accused had previously pleaded guilty to robbing €530 cash and €192 worth of medication at the pharmacy. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe accused admitted possessing a shotgun with intent to commit robbery. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtMaguire had a previous six-year suspended sentence for robbery and was subject to it when the offence occurred. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtMaguire had 58 previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtMaguire was remanded in custody to November 17 for a forensic report before sentencing. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA forensic psychiatric report was sought, and the defence asked for the matter to be adjourned to the November sitting of the Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge remanded the accused in custody to November 17 for the forensic report, which was needed before sentencing. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe maximum sentence available to the court is life in prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge praised the garda who tackled the armed robber. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherVictim impact statements described nightmares, panic attacks and ongoing fear among staff and a customer. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe court was told the accused had been given a six-year suspended sentence for robbery before this offence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe accused had 58 previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherA probation report assessed the accused as low risk of reoffending in the next 12 months. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the crime was appalling and that the victims had similar symptoms to post traumatic stress disorder. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jun2026
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Midlands pharmacy robber armed with shotgun taken down by garda

    Court sentencing hearing: pharmacy staff and a customer gave victim impact statements, the judge praised the garda who tackled the robber, and the accused was remanded for a forensic report.

    accused, Philip Maguire, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip Maguirevictim, Annette Donlon Nestor, female, irish (judged from name)Annette Donlon Nestorvictim, Nicole Cromack, female, irish (judged from name)Nicole Cromackvictim, Irene Macken, female, irish (judged from name)Irene Mackenvictim, Marie Delaney, irish (judged from name)Marie Delaney
  2. 26 Jun2026
    Convictedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Offaly pharmacy robber armed with shotgun taken down by garda

    Court report on the Circuit Court sentencing hearing. Maguire pleaded guilty to robbery and to possessing a shotgun with intent to commit robbery. Other charges were to be taken into consideration. The judge remanded him in custody for sentencing, and the report includes victim impact statements and the garda's account of the arrest.

    convicted, Philip Maguire, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip Maguirevictim, Annette Donlon Nestor, female, irish (judged from name)Annette Donlon Nestorvictim, Nicole Cromack, female, irish (judged from name)Nicole Cromackvictim, Irene Macken, female, irish (judged from name)Irene Mackenvictim, Marie Delaney, female, irish (judged from name)Marie Delaney