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07/12/2007
Kidnap Pair Sentenced For Boots Robbery
A daring, "highly organised and sophisticated" kidnapping plot that netted £150,000 was recalled this week in a Belfast court.
Jailing two Belfast men for a total of 16 years for their part in the crime, the judge said the robbery of the city centre Boots store in May 2005 "took meticulous preparation".
Sentencing Steven Meli, 26, of Locksley Lane in Finaghy, to 10 years and Gavin McLarnon, 29, of Laurelbank in Poleglass, to a six-year term, the judge recalled that a gang of men called to the respective homes of two Belfast families claiming to be from the "republican movement".
The court was told that the families were threatened with a gun and held hostage as in both cases, a member of each family worked part-time for Boots chemist on Royal Avenue.
They were forced to go to their work on the morning of the 18 May and one of the pair took £154,000 from the safe and handed it over to Meli.
Meli was arrested some months later and although he denied being part of the gang, when DNA evidence was put to him, he admitted taking part in the robbery.
He later pleaded guilty to robbery, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping and six counts of false imprisonment.
McLarnon denied all the offences and had gone to trial but after three days of evidence, he pleaded guilty to robbery on the basis that he had supplied dust masks the gang had worn as disguises.
He was acquitted of all other charges.
(BMcC)
Jailing two Belfast men for a total of 16 years for their part in the crime, the judge said the robbery of the city centre Boots store in May 2005 "took meticulous preparation".
Sentencing Steven Meli, 26, of Locksley Lane in Finaghy, to 10 years and Gavin McLarnon, 29, of Laurelbank in Poleglass, to a six-year term, the judge recalled that a gang of men called to the respective homes of two Belfast families claiming to be from the "republican movement".
The court was told that the families were threatened with a gun and held hostage as in both cases, a member of each family worked part-time for Boots chemist on Royal Avenue.
They were forced to go to their work on the morning of the 18 May and one of the pair took £154,000 from the safe and handed it over to Meli.
Meli was arrested some months later and although he denied being part of the gang, when DNA evidence was put to him, he admitted taking part in the robbery.
He later pleaded guilty to robbery, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping and six counts of false imprisonment.
McLarnon denied all the offences and had gone to trial but after three days of evidence, he pleaded guilty to robbery on the basis that he had supplied dust masks the gang had worn as disguises.
He was acquitted of all other charges.
(BMcC)
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