Gardaí in Co Wexford are investigating an armed robbery after the crew of a security van were held up by three raiders while delivering money to an ATM machine yesterday morning.
One of the crew members of the Group 4 cash-in-transit van was beaten across the face with the handle of gun used in the robbery. However, while he was said to be "shaken" by the experience, his injuries were described by gardaí as "not serious".
The incident, which follows a lull in such raids over the past year, took place just before 10am in Gorey. The crew of the targeted van had stopped at a Maxol service station on Dublin Road in the town.
As they were unloading money from the van for the ATM machine in the service station's shop, a black VW Golf carrying three men pulled in. The men, all of whom were wearing balaclavas, got out of their vehicle and approached the Group 4 workers.
One gang member who was carrying a firearm, believed to be a handgun, threatened the staff and ordered them to hand over the money. A scuffle ensued during which time the armed raider beat one of the Group 4 workers across the face with his gun.
The raiders left the scene with what gardaí were describing as a substantial amount of money. The exact sum was unconfirmed last night but sources said it was just over €200,000.
Once the money was handed over the three raiders got back into their car. It was last seen speeding northwards from Gorey.
Yesterday's raid was the first ATM robbery to take place for a long period, which followed a major review of security procedures in the cash-in-transit industry over the past two years.
Outgoing Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell pressed the industry to tighten its procedures following a number of high-profile robberies in 2004 and 2005 in which armed gangs escaped with several million euro, almost none of which was recovered.
When security was improved, some gangs staged so-called tiger robberies in which cash-in-transit or bank employees were held captive in their homes with family members. The hostages were only released when the employees went to their places of work and collected very large sums to pay as a ransom.
However, these so-called tiger robberies prompted a further security review which had brought these and ATM raids to a near complete end until yesterday's attack in Gorey.
A Group 4 spokeswoman was not available to comment on yesterday's raid.
Gardaí believe the raiders' car may have been in the vicinity of the Maxol station for some time before the robbery took place. They have appealed for anybody who saw the 06 Dublin-registered VW Golf in the area to come forward. They can be contacted in Gorey on (053) 942 1222.