Petrol station worker tells court of his fear at being held at gunpoint

A petrol station attendant today told Donegal Circuit Court of his fear when he was held up at gunpoint.
A Taurus hand-pistol, later discovered to be fake but which was described in court by a judge who saw it as very realistic, was held to Lee Jordan’s back and head by a gunman intent on robbing the till at the station and its adjoining supermarket.
Mr Jordan, now 25, was held up at Kee’s filling station and supermarket at the village of Laghey by Matthew Tysall on February 19, 2011.
Det Sgt Barry Doyle told the court that Tysall arrived armed with the gun and wearing a scarf to cover his face, and escaped with £100 sterling and €355.
However, despite his attempted disguise, gardai were able to identify Tysall from CCTV images.
When he was arrested a few hours later he told gardai he carried out the robbery because he had money troubles.
Tysall, now 28, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with criminal intent and theft.
He also admitted the theft of €5,000 of legal highs from Yutopia head shop in Donegal town on February 14, 2010, and the theft of a motorbike and other items from from a private house in Donegal Town in January 2011.
The court was told that Tysall, a father of one of Doonan, Donegal town, suffered from asperger syndrome and was addicted to drugs and alcohol.
He was sentenced to a total of five years, with the final year suspended;