The court heard that close to €180,000 was taken through an invoice redirect fraud after the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board paid a construction company for work carried out in a school in Tullamore.

22-year-old Jack Oliver was pronounced dead at the scene.

The BMW X5 left the scene and was found burnt out a short distance away on the N2.

One man is in serious conditions.

'Both were jailed for seven years and nine months today'

They say the robberies have impacted internet and phone services in more than 1,500 homes so far and leaving some cut off from services for up to 3 days.