Irish J1s robbed at gunpoint in Buffalo, New York

Liam Egan and Evan Glynn, Irish students spending the summer in the United States on a J-1 work visa, were robbed at gunpoint in Buffalo, New York, in the early hours from Sunday May 19.

Egan and Glynn were robbed outside the Banshee Irish Pub where they work in upstate New York less than a week after arriving in the United States.

CCTV footage of the incident, shared by the pub owner with local media, shows how the incident unfolded.

Egan and Glynn – no doubt shaken but thankfully not seriously injured – recounted what happened during the week.

“We were ordering an Uber and this guy came and turned around with a gun and really held it to our heads,” Egan, donning a GAA top, told WIBV.

He added: “When we looked at the footage he was clearly not following us, he was seeing us as an easy target. They’re almost easy targets. »

Neither Irishman had any cash on them, but the thief made off with one of their iPhones.

Conor Hawkins, co-owner of Banshee Irish Pub, told WKBW: “It’s embarrassing because Buffalo is a city that we all live in now, and for this to happen to these Irish guys – they’re from rural Ireland and this is not something they like. see at home.

Hawkins said nothing like this had ever happened to him in his 25 years living in the United States and he felt for the J1ers.

“It’s their first weekend in Buffalo and they’re going through this,” Hawkins lamented.

“They’re here to enjoy their summer. They paid a lot of money to work here for the summer and having a bad experience in Buffalo isn’t normally like that.”

Glynn told WKBW: “We were always told to be careful when we go to America and that kind of thing.

“In Ireland they say it can be very dangerous, but I’ve been to Buffalo a few times and we’ve never had a problem, we’ve always enjoyed it.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a gun anyway.”

Buffalo police are investigating. Anyone with information should call or text the confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255.