MARTIN 'The Viper' Foley was arrested yesterday after an incident at a Dublin city centre jewellery store.

A terrified female employee was allegedly threatened in Milano Jewellery in the Ilac Centre on the capital's northside.

Foley (64), one of Ireland's most notorious criminals, and a 37-year-old associate were arrested by gardaí from Store Street Station shortly before 2pm.

The two remained in garda custody last night and were being questioned about false imprisonment after the incident.

It emerged that Foley had been in dispute with the respected business over an item of jewellery he had left in the premises to be sold.

The item, which is understood to be valued at around €3,000, was left in to the jewellers by Foley about three weeks ago.

However, in what sources call "a very strange development", the jeweller became the victim of a scam.

An individual bought Foley's jewellery and left the store before it became known that the transaction had been declined on the buyer's card.

It is understood that gardaí are investigating whether the staff member had been the victim of a confidence trick when this happened.

It has been alleged that Foley then contacted the jeweller looking for his cash.

Foley's associate is a Crumlin man who was heavily involved in the gangster's debt collection agency. But sources said the incident had nothing to do with the Viper's former debt collection business.

Notorious

Foley is one of Ireland's most notorious criminals and has been shot on four separate occasions.

He has 14 bullet wounds and more than 40 convictions, some for assault and robbery, and possession of weapons.

Foley became a father again in January when his wife Sonia Doyle gave birth to a baby girl.

Last October, Foley gave an interview in which he spoke of his anger after his wedding ring was seized by Revenue officials in relation to an unpaid tax bill of almost €1m.

He also said that Sonia was left "very stressed out" and needed medical attention because he claimed she believed their dog would be taken.

Irish Independent