Three Derry men in court over Donegal Post Office robbery using Royal Mail van

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Three men from Derry will be sentenced next week at Letterkenny Circuit Court for carrying out a terrifying robbery at Manorcunningham Post Office using a Royal Mail van in October 2014.

The men, who have been in custody since the incident on October 4th last, were brought to the court in handcuffs this afternoon.

37-year-old Noel Lavy, a father-of-one of 57 Ballymagowan, Derry pleaded guilty to robbery, causing criminal damage, the unlawful taking of a Royal Mail van, dangerous driving and driving without insurance on the day in question.


Father-of-four David Knight, also 37, from 24 Melmore Gardens in Derry pleaded guilty to robbery, the production of an article, criminal damage and allowing himself to be carried in a mechanically-propelled vehicle.

Charges against Joseph McMullan, 25 of 5 Kavanagh Court, Derry included being carried in a stolen vehicle and possession of a knife used to intimidate.

Detective Sgt Rosemarie Rooney told the court that the gang were wearing high visibility vests when they hijacked the Royal Mail van in Derry at 9.40 that morning before driving across the border and carrying out the raid half an hour later on the An Post outlet.

Judge John Alymer was told €2,920 was stolen in the raid which was later recovered and returned to the post mistress Kathleen Diver, who was left shaken following the “terror inflicted on her that day during the chilling incident”.

The court heard that Mrs Diver saw one of the men walking past the post office window carrying an axe and activated the panic alarm. The three men then burst into the premises shouting and brandishing weapons including a knife, hammer, hatchet and the axe. Mrs Diver threw cash at the males who also threatened her husband William with a knife before making off in the van. They headed towards Killea in an attempt to flee back across the border towards Derry but gardaí brought the van to a halt at the border using a stinger. The three fled the van but were apprehended a short time later.

The judge heard that the incident "had not been a master plan but was a hair-brained expedition that was premeditated that morning following a long night of drug taking” as the gang attempted to feed a drug habit.

The court was told that trio have 317 previous convictions between them, all carried out in Northern Ireland. Lavey’s 95 previous convictions include 16 for burglary and 39 for road traffic offences along with other incidents of criminal damage, obstruction and disorderly behaviour. Knight also has 96 previous convictions including 27 for burglary and 48 for road traffic matters while McMullan’s 126 past offences include seven for assaulting a police officer, eight for criminal damage, 71 for road traffic matters and 10 theft offences.

Mr and Mrs Diver were not present for today’s sentencing hearing during which David Knight took to the stand to apologise for what he had put them through: “I understand the hurt I’ve caused to them and I’m really, really sorry,” he said. Joseph McMullan also took the opportunity to address the court: "We were full of drugs that day and we were just looking for money for more. We didn't know what we were doing but it shouldn't have happened. I would never doing anything like this again to anyone."

Judge John Aylmer adjourned sentencing until next Wednesday, December 16th.