Shopowner grapples with knife attacker

Gardaí in Navan are refusing to rule out the return of a mysterious knife raider who targeted shopowners in March and May after an abortive robbery on a shop in Navan this week. The same threatening manner of attack, a lone, tall male, wearing a balaclava, brandishing a knife, was employed at a newsagents in the town but with one notable difference - this time the shopowner fought back. On Monday morning 12th December, at around 11am, a man, around six feet tall, carrying a kitchen knife and wearing a balaclava, entered Lynch's at Flower Hill and demanded money. The shopowner, Michael Lynch, was alone in the shop at the time but refused to give him anything. During an ensuing scuffle, Mr Lynch overpowered his attacker and took the knife and removed the balaclava. The would-be raider, however, escaped on foot. Gardaí say that one of their suspects for the attempted armed robbery has is not the same one who terrorised five shopowners around the county in March - however, they are also reluctant to rule out the serial offender. Mr Lynch's courage only saw him sustain "just cuts and bruises" while his attacker came off worse and is also thought to have cut his hand. The would-be raider later burned his jacket nearby in an effort to conceal his identity.