Dispute leaves ATMs empty

A NUMBER of ATMs are out of cash this morning in larger urban centres, such as Dublin, Cork and Waterford, ahead of this weekend’s bank holiday.

The crisis affecting many Bank of Ireland-run ATMs is due to a dispute with Brinks-Allied over the transport of cash.

The security firm stopped their service to the bank earlier this week after both sides failed to reach an agreement over liability for losses in cases of theft.

The dispute between the bank and the security firm follows a recent series of armed raids on security vans.

Last night, the bank revealed that most of the 89 ATMs in Dublin, Cork and Waterford could run out of cash overnight.

The dispute is to come before the High Court today when the bank will seek an injunction against Brinks-Allied.

Bank of Ireland will seek a court order directing the security firm to perform obligations under a December 1, 2002, agreement between the sides by which the company agreed to provide cash management services for Bank of Ireland ATMs and to collect cash from its cash centre for delivery to ATMs and to remit excess cash from ATMs to its cash centre.

The bank is also seeking an injunction directing Brinks-Allied to perform obligations under an agreement of July 21, 2003 relating to cash-in-transit services.

After hearing from counsel for the sides yesterday, Mr Justice John McMenamin said he would hear the injunction application today.

Alex Owens SC, for the bank, said some branches had been depleted of cash while other branches were carrying too much cash, which also posed a security risk.