A 65-year-old man, Barry Reddan, who claimed to be from the IRA during a post office robbery in Clonmany, Co. Donegal, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The incident left postmistress Mary Brennan in a state of terror as Reddan, a retired motor mechanic, burst into her post office on November 11, 2020, armed with a gun. Reddan, wearing a 'monkey hat' and surgical mask, demanded money, threatening to shoot Brennan. Despite his demands, Brennan refused to hand over any money, displaying remarkable courage. Reddan fled without taking any money, but was later arrested by the Garda following a thorough investigation. During the trial, Reddan admitted to the attempted robbery and expressed deep remorse, offering Brennan €5,000 as a gesture of his regret. The court heard that Reddan had no previous convictions and was assessed as having a low risk of reoffending. Judge John Aylmer, considering the circumstances and Reddan's remorse, sentenced him to five and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended due to the low risk of reoffending and the absence of rehabilitation needs.
