Arrest after bank raid

A LIMERICK city man was being held last night in connection with an armed robbery earlier yesterday at a bank in Kilmallock.

Two other men are still being sought.

The man, in his 30s, was arrested during a planned Garda raid on a house near Kilfinane two hours after the robbery.

The getaway car was found nearby and the money taken in the robbery was recovered.

The three armed and masked men — one is known to have brandished a scissors and the others were also armed but it is understood they didn’t carry firearms — ran into the Bank of Ireland branch at Lord Edward Street, Kilmallock, at about 11.10am.

One vaulted the counter while the two others shouted at customers and staff to lie down and not move.

They fled the scene with what gardaí said was a “limited amount of cash”.

The getaway red hatchback car had its number plates blocked out.

According to local sources two of the gang members helped the third get out through the hatchback door after the car pulled up outside the bank.

While in the bank they left the unmanned car with the engine running.

The car was found abandoned at Kilfinane some time later.

Gardaí led by Detective Superintendent Jim Browne later surrounded a house in the vicinity and arrested a person on suspicion of being involved in the armed robbery.

He was still being held at Bruff Garda Station last night as gardaí in the county and city searched for the two other gang members who may have made their way back to Limerick.

Det Supt Browne said the car was intact when it was found and was being forensically examined for more clues on the occupants.