Bank staff appeal for high-level security talks
The Irish Bank Officials’ Association (IBOA) said there was a growing trend whereby bank employees were seen as a “soft target” by criminals looking to rob banks.
IBOA general secretary Larry Broderick said a range of security issues needed to be addressed, including: the personal safety of bank employees, including their families and their homes how cash is kept in banks and the amount held structures regarding who has access to cash central control by bank headquarters.
“IBOA members throughout Ireland are genuinely concerned for their safety and well-being as a result of this robbery,” said Mr Broderick.
“Somebody has targeted a bank official, identified where they lived, taken their family hostage to extract money from the bank.
“The job of a bank official is difficult enough without worrying that your family could be taken as hostage.”
He also warned against an obsession over the amount of money taken in such operations or how it was done. He added: “We will be calling on the minister and the gardaí and the representatives of the industry to sit down and review at the very highest level, all aspects of personal safety of officials in the light of this growing trend where criminals are viewing bank officials and their families as targets.”
He said the IBOA accepted that there had been progress in recent months.
“The reality is we are looking at a growing trend and what is required is a very strong message to be delivered, particularly by the Minister for Justice, to the criminal community and also our members, to reassure them safety is a priority.”
The Department of Justice said a forum was already in place involving the gardaí and the banking and security industry.
