Updated 3 March 12.32pm
VETERAN CRIMINAL MARTIN Foley, known as ‘The Viper’, has been taken to hospital after being arrested yesterday over an alleged case of false imprisonment at a jewellers at Dublin’s Ilac Centre.
He was arrested at lunchtime yesterday afternoon, when the city centre mall was packed with shoppers.
Foley, 64, and another man, in his 30s, were overpowered by security guards before they could make their escape, after an altercation at the store.
“We saw a struggle at the door and heard someone shouting ‘call the guards’,” an eye-witness told TheJournal.ie.
Security people came from the other shops and helped the jewellers’ security subdue a man.
Gardaí were at the scene within minutes – and the men were taken away.
“The whole thing lasted around 15 minutes. Security were trying to move people away from the area and telling them not to take videos or photos.
The whole thing was contained in the shop, once the shutters went down – so there was no sense of panic, really, in the centre.
Around six security guards rushed to the scene to subdue the men, the witness said.
They did a good job. The shutters went down and the men were just held there.
The witness said her daughter recognised the older man as Foley. Sources confirmed last night that it was Foley.
It is understood Foley was taken to the Mater Hospital earlier today but is still technically in garda custody while he receives care.
The 37-year-old man who was arrested with him yesterday is also still in custody at Store Street Station.
Foley – who has survived a series of attempts on his life – has a string of convictions for assault, robbery and possession of weapons.
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