Raiders use JCB to scoop out ATM
The raiders are thought to have escaped with about €170,000 in the robbery at Mother Hubbard’s, Moyvalley, near Kinnegad.
The well-known truckstop and restaurant suffered significant structural damage after a corner of it, housing the ATM, was demolished by the JCB.
Gardaí said the robbery took place at about 2am yesterday and have appealed for anyone driving on the N4 Dublin-to-Galway road at the time, and who saw anything suspicious, to contact them.
“We are appealing for any information or any witnesses who may have seen the incident,” said a Garda spokesman. “An ATM machine was pulled from a wall with a digger machine, a JCB, and a substantial amount of damage was caused to the building. An undisclosed sum of money was taken.”
He added: “It’s a busy enough road. Anyone going past who noticed anything, who can help us in any way, are asked to contact Leixlip Garda Station on 01-6667800 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.”
The raiders stole the JCB from a local site and managed to get it going. They drove it to the restaurant, where they used the bucket of the JCB to smash through the roof above the ATM and drag the cash machine out.
Substantial damage was caused to interior walls as well as the roof.
CCTV footage in the area was due to be examined yesterday. The scene was sealed off, pending a full technical examination.
