Gardaí ‘amazed’ passing motorists failed to raise alarm as JCB rammed ATM

GARDAÍ say they are “absolutely amazed” a number of motorists who witnessed a mechanical digger demolishing a cash machine have not contacted an investigation team.

Superintendent Charlie Barry, who is leading the investigation, said detectives looking at CCTV footage of the raid in Cork county last weekend could clearly see a number of car headlights passing by at the time of the incident.

He said motorists, who passed the garage where the attempted robbery took place, could not have missed seeing the JCB ramming the building. Yet none of the early-morning motorists contacted Gardaí.

CCTV footage reveals the JCB had rammed the building that housed the ATM eight times.

“It reversed in and out a number of times before it flattened part of the building,” Supt Barry said. “People passing by couldn’t have missed it. But nobody rang us and that is very unusual.”

The 4am raid took less than four minutes but, in that time, several motorists, including taxi drivers, drove past Spillane’s Maxol service station at Carr’s Hill, Carrigaline. At least two would-be robbers were pictured in the JCB which had been stolen from a farm 300 metres on the Cork side of the garage.

Supt Barry said, despite the bashing to the ATM, the men failed to open it and fled empty- handed. He said it was likely the men had an accomplice waiting for them in a getaway car which was also likely to have been seen by passing motorists.

Supt Barry said the men must have had local knowledge.

“We believe there are a number of people who were either driving or passengers in taxis who had to have seen this incident and the getaway car involved,” the superintendent said.

The raiders struck last Saturday, April 4, at 4.04am. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who saw the incident to contact Togher Garda Station at 021-4947120.