McDowell criticises security industry after €2m Dublin raid

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has criticised the security industry following the theft of more than €2m from a cash-transit van in Dublin this morning.

In a statement released to the media, Mr McDowell said: "The security industry has let down the wider community through an apparent procedural lapse which has enabled criminals to realise a significant amount of money."

The minister said he would be seeking talks with security industry representatives and, if he was dissatisfied with the outcome, he would ensure that the new Private Security Authority exercised its power to revoke or suspend licences.

Labour Party TD Joe Costello, however, said Mr McDowell must take some responsibility for today's robbery.

"It has taken four years to put the private security firms legislation through the Dáil and I had to intervene on a couple of occasions with the Taoiseach to try and get it moving along," Mr Costello said.

"He promised us 2,000 gardaí in 2002. It is now 2005 and we haven't seen a single one of those gardaí on the beat. The minister is really doing nothing except talking."