By April Drew

An Irishman pleaded guilty in federal court last week to robbing $11,000 from a Bank of America outlet and possessing a firearm in Bangor, Maine last October.

Niall Clarke, 26, who was arrested shortly after the robbery took place, faces up to 25 years behind bars for armed robbery and a compulsory minimum seven years for the use of a gun. He also faces up to 10 years in federal prison on firearm violation counts. A date for sentencing has yet to be decided.

Clarke, who came to the U.S. a year ago and was due to return to Ireland last April, is expected to be deported after his time is served.

Clarke was arrested fleeing the scene while driving southbound on Interstate 95 with the money and a .38 caliber handgun along with a box of ammunition. Clarke originally pleaded not guilty to the charges of robbery but changed his plea last week.

He also surrendered the gun and ammunition, which he claimed he bought the day previous to the robbery at a Military Supply store in Brewer, Maine. He lied on the application form to purchase the gun stating that he was a U.S. citizen.

Clarke also pleaded guilty to using a firearm while committing a federal crime of violence, lying on an application to purchase the gun and unlawful possession of a firearm.

A friend of Clarks who worked with him in Dublin said, “He is a genuine personable person, who I struggle to associate with this crime. While there is no doubt that he is responsible for this, it would be better try and understand the person and their reasons for having committed it, rather than instant condemnation and ridicule him.”