Three Lithuanian men who robbed a Co Westmeath jewellery store in Ireland while under duress from a Lithuanian criminal gang were this week told to return to Lithuania or face five years in prison.

Egidijus Peciulis (30), from Joncua, Gytis Zienius (35) and Ovidijus Rumba (30), both from Kaunas, admitted robbing almost €94,000 in rings from Angela Blacoe Jewellers in Athlone on March 6th, 2010.

Judge Anthony Kennedy said at Mullingar Circuit Court it was accepted the three acted under duress “from start to finish”. A “controlling mastermind” had a “terrifying command” over them.

Passports were taken from the men, and they were told their lives and the lives of their families were in danger if they did not commit the robbery, the court was told.

The men used pepper spray on Valerie Byrne, a jewellery shop customer, and staff member Theresa Carey during the raid. None of the jewellery was ever recovered.

Peciulis claimed he had been promised construction work in Ireland, but when he arrived a man took his passport and told him to commit the robbery. His life and his family were under threat.

Judge Kennedy noted the concern of the DPP that “it would send the wrong message that if runners, stooges are caught in Ireland all that would happen to them is that they would be deported”.

However, he believed the criminal “bosses” would not care “one way or the other” what happens to the “underlings”.

He imposed five-year prison sentences on the trio backdated to March 10th. The remainder of the sentences was suspended on condition they return to Lithuania and stay out of Ireland for 10 years.