The violent criminal, who is aged in his 40s, is this evening being quizzed in relation to several terrifying raids in Clondalkin and other parts of the city.
The man is suspected of using syringes and knives to threaten staff, and the businesses targeted included shops, off-licences and a garage.
It’s understood that gardaí were able to connect the crimes as the suspect made little effort to conceal his identity during the raids.
In one raid a worker was assaulted while in another incident a staff member had a knife held to their throat.
The suspect was arrested during a garda operation this morning after getting off a bus at the Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght.
The criminal is suspected of going on a “crime rampage” in recent days and has been linked to raids in Clondalkin, the south-inner city, and Rathmines.
“Significant efforts have been underway to locate this man. He had gone to ground but following good police work he was arrested this morning,” a source told the Irish Independent.
“He is an extremely violent individual and the belief is that he was planning more raids in an effort to pay off a debt owed. Thankfully any further crimes as part have now been prevented.
“The investigation is being led by gardaí in Clondalkin but guards from across the city will want to interview this man for offences in their districts.”
He has a significant number of previous convictions including manslaughter in relation to a fatal stabbing.
The suspect has also been investigated for more than a dozen aggravated robberies over the past two decades and has served several prison sentences.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed the arrest saying: “On Wednesday 4th September 2024, gardaí have arrested a man as part of an investigation into a number of armed robberies throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Region.
“Following reports of seven armed robberies of convenient stores and petrol stations in Rathmines, South Circular Road, Clondalkin and Ronanstown over a recent period, an incident room was established in Clondalkin Garda Station under the supervision of a Senior Investigating Officer.
“This investigation involved Gardaí attached to the Ballyfermot, Tallaght and Clondalkin Garda Stations.
“Gardaí attached to Clondalkin Divisional Detective and Community Engagement Units with assistance of Garda members from Tallaght, arrested the suspect in the Tallaght area earlier today.
“The man, aged in his 40s, is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region.”
He can be detained for up to 24 hours before he must either be charged or released from custody pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
