The manager of an Arklow bookmakers that was held up two weeks ago has said he is lucky to be alive after being injured in the robbery.
James Vaughan, who manages Tully’s Bookmakers on the Lower Main Street, was shot in the face with a pellet gun and had to undergo surgery to remove the projectile which had become lodged in his nose.
The robbery occurred on Saturday, December 7 at around 5.30pm when two masked men entered the bookmakers brandishing a pellet gun and demanded cash.
Mr Vaughan was shot in the face two inches below his right eye and underwent surgery in Beaumount Hospital on Wednesday, December 11.
“The surgeon told me I was lucky to be alive — which wasn’t a nice thing to hear just as I’m about to go under anaesthetic,” James said.
“Since the robbery I haven’t been able to sleep and have been given tablets that make me drowsy. My mind wont let me relax and the one thought going through my head is ‘I got shot’.”
James said he will most likely attend counselling sessions in the near future to help him overcome the trauma of his experience and also go for cardiac tests because of his blood pressure.
“Obviously I hope the police catch who did it, but a tiny bit of me feels sorry for them. They must have pathetic lives if they need to commit an armed robbery just to get a small amount of money.”
