Bank raiders' battering ram

HEIST: Robbers torch van and flee with large amount of cash

Alan O'Keeffe

THIS is the makeshift battering ram used by raiders who struck at a Bank of Ireland branch.

Bank robbers caused mayhem in Kingscourt, Co Cavan, when they raided a Bank of Ireland yesterday evening -- stealing a "substantial amount" of cash.

Two armed men set fire to a van outside the bank as they escaped from the scene. The flames spread to three other parked vehicles causing widespread disruption in the town.

getaway

The gang used the van, a motorbike, and a BMW car in the raid, which took place shortly before 5pm on the town's main street, when the front door of the bank was rammed with a makeshift battering ram.

The ram was a pole protruding from the back of the van, which was parked in front of the bank.

The men entered the bank and escaped with an amount of cash.

A garda spokesman said: "The van used in the ramming was set alight as they left.

"No-one was injured, no shots were fired and there have been no arrests.

"They made off with a substantial amount of cash," he added.

The gang are believed to have escaped with the cash in the BMW car.

They set fire to the van, and the blaze spread to cars parked on either side.

The van and two cars were destroyed by the flames and a fourth vehicle was also damaged. The local fire service succeeded in preventing the fire spreading to even more vehicles. The incident caused long traffic jams in the town.

The getaway car was found burned out less than two miles from the bank.

Gardai cordoned off a large section of the street following the raid.

Local businessman Leo Maguire, whose butcher shop is next door to the bank, told the Herald: "The people of the town are relieved no one appears to have been hurt in the raid. We're all shocked. It's fortunate the fire brigade got here so quickly to prevent further damage."

A garda spokesman appealed for anyone who saw any suspicious to contact them at Bailieboro on 042 9694570.

aokeeffe@herald.ie