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‘Investigations continue’ into bank raid

This article is from page 2 of the 2011-10-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG

GARDAÍ say an investigation is ongoing into the armed robbery of the Bank of Ireland in Kilkee on Thursday afternoon and say that several people were involved in the incident.

Two men arrested in connection with the incident were released without charge on Saturday night. The two, aged 26 and 31 – who are from west Clare – were arrested in the Doonbeg area on Thursday night, just hours after the incident which took place shortly after 2pm.

During the incident, one man stood at the door of the bank carrying a sawn-off shotgun while another as- sailant threatened staff with a knife.

More than € 8, 500 in cash – including some £2,000 in sterling – was stolen by the gang. No shots were fired and nobody was injured. There was one customer in the bank at the time.

The two arrived at the bank on a high-powered motorbike and travelled along the side of the O’Curry Street premises before entering the building. They made their getaway on the same vehicle.

Members of the Regional Armed Support Unit – which is based in Galway – were called in to assist gardaí in the investigation and gardaí say every effort will be made to solve the crime.

Gardaí have recovered most of the cash stolen, along with a motorcyle and helmets but have not yet located the weapons.

“A file will be sent to the DPP in relation to this,” said a senior garda spokesman. “We believe that there were a number of people involved in planning and implementing this. Our investigations are continuing.

“We have made very substantial progress in it. We are appealing for members of the public who were in the area before, during and after this incident to contact us,” he added.

“We have video footage. One of the men was wearing a green jacket. There might have been a rugby world cup logo on it, and he had white gloves. “The other had a grey jacket and black woollen gloves,” he said.

Gardaí say that the incident is isolated in that it is “completely unrelated” from recent incidents in which burglaries have been carried out in east Clare and Ennis.

The head of the Clare Garda Division Chief Superintendent John Kerin praised gardaí involved in the investigation of this crime.

“I am very pleased with the very proactive and professional response by gardaí, who were assisted by the Divisional and Regional Units,” said Chief Supt Kerin.

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