Top brass to review tiger threat

Top garda officials and senior management from financial institutions are meeting tomorrow to go through current procedures and protocols line by line in relation to tiger kidnaps and make whatever changes are necessary, it emerged today.

The fundamental review is being carried out in a bid to ensure robberies like Friday’s multi-million euro heist on Bank of Ireland's College Green branch does not happen again.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, who has already raised concerns over why procedures were not followed, has also spoken with Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy about the raid.

The Minister’s spokesman said: “These procedures are in place to fundamentally ensure the safety of bank employees.

“The operating of these procedures, if done correctly, also ensures criminal gangs will not target individual bank employees because if the system is operating effectively there would not be any point in targeting an individual.

“The Minister has discussed the issue over the weekend with the Garda Commissioner.

“He is also pleased with the response of the gardaí, in particular of reports that over half of the money stolen was recovered.”