Bank officials 'not paid' to be confronted by armed robbers

Bank officials are not paid to be confronted by armed robbers, Judge Tony Hunt said at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when he jailed a man for seven years for a city centre robbery.

Noel Keogh (aged 35), of South Circular Road, Rialto robbed €2,106 and Stg £1,467 from Bank of Ireland, St Stephen’s Green on January 4, 2006.

Judge Hunt noted that Keogh had previous convictions for "targeting financial institutions" and that the victims of this crime were two female bank officials who had suffered extreme stress as a result of it.

"This was not a financial institution but rather two young girls who were working in Bank of Ireland," Judge Hunt said.

"People who work in banks, shops and stores are not the best paid workers. They are certainly not paid enough to be confronted by armed robbers".