Thursday 5 November 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. 25930Armed robbery · Co. Kildare · 30 May 2019

Man sentenced for armed robbery of security van in Clane

On 30 May 2019, a man armed with a small black handgun robbed G4S security van driver James Keating of a cash box containing an estimated €50,000 outside the AIB branch on Main Street, Clane, Co Kildare. A second unidentified man assisted, and the suspects escaped in a white Ford Transit van found burnt out two days later. Graham Doyle, of Finglas, Dublin, was identified from CCTV footage and pleaded guilty to robbery at Naas Circuit Court sitting in Drogheda on 29 March 2022. On 25 July 2022, Judge Martina Baxter sentenced Doyle to six and a half years in prison with the final 12 months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 May
  5. Convicted5 Apr
  6. Sentenced25 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man armed with a small black handgun robbed a G4S security van driver of a cash box containing an estimated €50,000 outside the AIB branch on Main Street, Clane, Co Kildare.
  • A second unidentified man assisted in the robbery, and the suspects escaped in a white Ford Transit van found burnt out two days later.
  • The defendant was reported as 35 in earlier court appearances and 36 at sentencing.
When
The robbery took place at around 2pm on 30 May 2019.
Weapon
The defendant was carrying a small black handgun, and it was not known whether it was real or an imitation model.
Investigation
Three Dublin-based gardaí identified the defendant from CCTV footage taken from locations on Main Street and Prosperous Road in Clane.
Charges
Doyle was originally charged with having a handgun with intent to commit an indictable offence at Main Street, Clane, on 30 May 2019.
In court
Doyle pleaded guilty to robbery at Naas Circuit Court sitting in Drogheda on 29 March 2022.
Sentence
Judge Martina Baxter sentenced Doyle to six and a half years in prison with the final 12 months suspended for two years on 25 July 2022.
Other details
  • The security van driver, James Keating, said he was put in fear of his life and needed medication to sleep for a year following the incident.
  • Doyle had 23 previous convictions at the time of the robbery.
  • Doyle was also sentenced to seven years with two and a half years suspended for a separate robbery in Ratoath in January 2020.
46 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGraham Doyle is 35 and lives at Apartment 11, The Iona, Prospect Hill, Finglas (kildarenow.com)
  • what€50,000 was stolen during the incident (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe driver was threatened by the defendant who was wearing a cap and sunglasses and took the cash box from the vehicle (kildarenow.com)
  • whatIt was not known whether the handgun was real or an imitation model (kildarenow.com)
  • whatGraham Doyle, 35, of Apartment 11, The Iona, Prospect Hill, Finglas, appeared at Naas Circuit Court (kildarenow.com)
  • whatCCTV showed the defendant approach the driver and pull the cash box from his grasp (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe cash box contained €50,000 (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe defendant was assisted by another male standing in the street (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe suspects escaped in a white transit van (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe white transit van was found burnt out two days later (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA previous owner of the van said it had been sold to a man from Finglas (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe defendant was wearing gloves and sunglasses during the robbery (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe defendant had 23 previous convictions at the time of the robbery (kildarenow.com)
  • whatFollowing the Clane incident, the defendant was charged in relation to another robbery after being apprehended following a chase in Ratoath in January 2020 (kildarenow.com)
  • whatNone of the money taken in the Clane robbery was recovered (kildarenow.com)
  • whatSecurity van driver James Keating said he needed medication to help him sleep following the incident (kildarenow.com)
  • whatKeating was on medication for a year and still takes sleeping pills (kildarenow.com)
  • whatDoyle pleaded guilty to the robbery outside the AIB branch at Main Street, Clane on 30 May 2019. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe cash box contained an estimated €50,000. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe security van driver activated an emergency device during the robbery. (rte.ie)
  • whatA second man, never identified by gardaí, also took part in the robbery. (rte.ie)
  • whatDoyle escaped in a Ford Transit van after jumping over a 3.6 metre wall near Mansworth's pub. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe Ford Transit van was found burnt out two days later. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe registered owner of the van said he had sold it to a man from Finglas. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe robbery took place at around 2pm. (rte.ie)
  • weaponThe defendant had a small black handgun in his hand (kildarenow.com)
  • weaponThe defendant was carrying a firearm during the Ratoath robbery (kildarenow.com)
  • weaponDoyle used a small black handgun in the robbery. (rte.ie)
  • investigationCCTV images were taken from locations on Main Street and Prosperous Road in Clane (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThree Dublin-based gardaí identified the defendant from the CCTV images (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe second individual involved in the Clane robbery was not identified (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThree gardaí identified Doyle as the person in the CCTV footage carrying a gun and wearing gloves and sunglasses. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe was originally charged with having a handgun with intent to commit an indictable offence at Main Street, Clane, on 30 May 2019 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty to robbery at Naas Circuit Court sitting in Drogheda on 29 March 2022 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe defending barrister argued the CCTV footage was very vague and the defendant was not seen in it (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe defendant was to contest the case and assert his innocence at the District Court stage (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to Naas Circuit Court on 12 May (kildarenow.com)
  • courtCCTV images of the armed robbery were shown in a Naas courtroom on 12 May 2022 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtDoyle pleaded guilty to robbery at Main Street, Clane, on 29 March at a Circuit Court hearing in Drogheda (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Naas Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant received a seven-year term with two and a half years suspended for the Ratoath robbery (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceDoyle was sentenced to six and a half years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe final 12 months were suspended for two years provided he kept the peace and was under Probation Service supervision for 12 months after release. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe security van driver said he was put in fear of his life and needed medication to sleep for a year after the robbery. (rte.ie)
  • otherDoyle had 23 previous convictions. (rte.ie)
  • otherDoyle is currently serving a four and a half year prison term for a similar cash-in-transit robbery at the Aldi store in Clonee, Co Dublin. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Jul2022
    Sentencedrte.ie, its first report
    Man jailed over armed robbery outside Co Kildare bank

    Reports the sentencing of Graham Doyle for the 2019 armed robbery, including details of the crime, the victim's impact statement, and the judge's reasoning.

    convicted, Graham Doyle, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Graham Doylevictim, malesuspect, male
  2. 12 May2022
    In courtkildarenow.com, follow-up
    BREAKING: Dramatic CCTV images of cash in transit robbery outside Kildare bank shown in court

    Pre-sentence hearing details: CCTV footage description, victim impact statement from security van driver James Keating, defence submissions by Senior Counsel Michael Lynn (no gangland involvement, gambling as contributory factor, mentoring in prison), and adjournment to 20 June 2022 for sentencing.

    victim, James Keating, male, irish (judged from name)James Keatingaccused, Graham Doyle, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Graham Doylesuspect, male
  3. 5 Apr2022
    Convictedkildarenow.com, first report
    LATEST: Man seen with a gun in his hand on the street prior to Kildare security van robbery

    Reports Doyle's guilty plea at Naas Circuit Court on 29 March 2022, details of CCTV evidence from Main Street and Prosperous Road, the bail refusal at District Court, and adjournment to 12 May 2022 for sentencing.

    convicted, Graham Doyle, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Graham Doylevictim