Woman sues BoI for negligence after tiger raid

The former girlfriend of a Bank of Ireland official forced to hand over €7.6m during a tiger kidnapping has brought a High Court claim seeking damages for alleged negligence against the bank.

Stephanie Smith, aged 24, was in a relationship with Bank of Ireland employee Shane Travers. On Feb 26, 2006, he was forced, while armed masked robbers held her and two of her family hostage, to hand over the money taken from the bank’s premises at College Green in Dublin.

She claims she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression as a result of her ordeal.

In her action against the governor and company of the Bank of Ireland, Ms Smith a hairdresser from Stonebridge House, Badger Hill, Kill, Co Kildare, says the bank failed to have any regard for the health and safety of its employees’ co-habitants.

It is also claimed the bank exposed her to a foreseeable, security-related injury and to danger and injury which it ought to have known. The bank failed in its duty of care to her, it is further alleged.

Bank of Ireland denies all the claims against it and denies it owes Ms Smith any duty of care.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns directed that an issue in the case — whether the bank owed a duty of care to Ms Smith — be tried as a preliminary issue.

In her statement of claim, Ms Smith says that on the date of the robbery, she and her mother were approached by an armed gang of masked men outside Ms Smith’s home. In an ensuing struggle both women were assaulted and injured by the robbers.

Mr Travers, who was her co-habitant at the time, was present in the house at the time along with her young nephew. All four were taken captive.

It is claimed the robbers, who tied their hands with cable and put tape over their eyes, knew a lot about her family.

She claims they were also threatened by the gang members.

She claims they were told nothing would happen to them if Mr Travers “did what he was told.” Mr Travers was eventually taken away, while Ms Smith, her mother and her nephew were bundled into the back of a van.

It is claimed they were driven for an hour before being informed Mr Travers and other gang members had successfully entered the bank. While they were in the van, the robbers poured detergent in an attempt to clean up the scene. Ms Smith feared it was petrol and they would be burned alive.

After the gang members left the van Ms Smith managed to free herself and the others. They were picked up in Ashbourne, Co Meath, and were taken to a Garda Station before being moved to hospital.

Since the incident, she and Mr Travers have split up. She claims her life has deteriorated and she suffers from flashbacks and nightmares.