Two held over charity cash robbery

Gardai today recovered €100,000 which was stolen in an armed hold-up at a charity headquarters.

Two men were being held for questioning at Kilmainham garda station after the cash was recovered in a garda operation today.

The cash was taken in an early-hours raid on the Pennies from Heaven organisation in Dublin on Friday.

The sum was comprised of coins in mainly outdated punts as well as sterling.

Three men, one carrying a shotgun, forced their way into the premises and demanded the cash, which had been collected earlier this year during the changeover from the punt to the new euro common European currency.

Throughout that period, collection boxes were positioned in banks, shops and other public premises inviting people to hand over spare cash in the outgoing currency or other denominations.

During Friday’s raid, two security personnel were overpowered and tied up, but left uninjured.

Gardai subsequently put banks and shopkeepers on alert for anyone trying to exchange or lodge large amount of sterling or old Irish coins.

Police said the money stolen was made up of £46,000 in one pound coins, £10,000 in 50 pence coins and £25,000 in 20 pence pieces.