TWO men remained in garda custody today in connection with an armed robbery at a Cork bookies almost two years ago during which a pensioner became a hero with his intervention to foil the crime.

The men were being detained today at a garda station in the city.

Local man Denis O'Connor, aged 83 at the time, stood up to the raiders during the incident, forcing them to flee the bookies. 

Mr O'Connor sadly passed away earlier this month. 

In a statement, gardaí said:

"Gardaí investigating an attempted armed robbery at a bookmakers in the Glanmire area of Cork that occurred on September 15, 2018, have today arrested two men in relation to the investigation.

"The men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested in the Donoughmore area of Cork and are currently detained at Mayfield Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939."

On the night of the alleged incident, three men wearing balaclavas were reported as having entered the premises, one armed with a suspected firearm.

No shots were fired during this, according to gardaí.