Two teenagers were arrested today after attempted robberies at two post offices in the south west.
The 18-years-olds are being held by gardai in Limerick investigating the raids which were carried out just an hour and a half apart.
Two men entered the post office in Garryowen, Co Limerick, at 9.30am and produced what appeared to be a firearm.
Despite demanding money, the culprits left the scene empty handed. Within 90 minutes, two offenders brandishing a firearm entered a post office agent in Clonlara, on the boarder of Clare and Limerick.
Again, they left the premises - a shop which pays out social welfare payments on behalf of the post office - without any money.
The culprits left the scene in a car which was stopped a short time later by the district patrol car attached to Henry Street Garda Station.
No shots were fired during either incident and nobody was injured. "With the assistance of a Traffic Unit attached to Henry Street and a mobile unit attached to crime office in Mayorstone the vehicle was stopped on the Corbally Road," said a garda spokesman.
"Two youths were arrested under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and a firearm was recovered.
"It would appear that the two youths arrested were involved in both incidents." One of the suspects is being held in Henry Street Garda Station while the other is detained in Mayorstone.
The weapon is due to be examined by ballistic experts.
Meanwhile, gardai in Cork are holding two men arrested following an armed raid on a credit union.
The raiders, brandishing a firearm, stole a quantity of cash before they were caught at the scene by gardai from Togher.
All the money was recovered and the firearm were recovered. Both men are being detained at Togher garda station.