Northern Ireland

Robbers in old man masks `made off with cash in Co Derry armed robbery'

Robbers in old man masks `made off with cash in an armed robbery'
Robbers in old man masks `made off with cash in an armed robbery' Robbers in old man masks `made off with cash in an armed robbery'

ROBBERS wearing "old man masks" made off with cash in an armed robbery as an ATM was being re-filled from a cash-in-transit van, a court has heard.

Dublin men Alan Carroll (37), of Island Key and Darren Redmond (24), of Caledon Road - both in the East Wall area - appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court today charged with robbing the security firm at Greysteel, Co Derry.

They are both charged with possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Carroll is also accused of using a mobile phone whilst driving and using a RAV4 vehicle without insurance or MOT in the Foyle Bridge area of Derry.

Mr Redmond is accused of possessing cannabis.

A PSNI officer said police received a report from G4S around noon that one of their security vans with two guards had been robbed at gunpoint by two men with southern accents wearing "old man masks" and "brandishing a silver handgun" while refilling an ATM.

She said one of the guards was pushed inside the ATM facility, with "a gun held to the head" of the other.

When told the ATM was on a timer, one of the raiders then demanded that a guard opened a security box he had brought in from the van and money was placed in a black hold-all and the robbers ran off across a road, the court was told

District Judge Nigel Broderick heard the RAV4 jeep-type vehicle was stopped at Foyle Bridge and the defendants were inside.

Mr Carroll claimed to have bought the vehicle a few days beforehand in England, the court heard.

Police believe the RAV4 crossed the border at Aughnacloy the previous day.

The court was told police believe the raiders disposed of the gun, masks and money before the car was stopped.

Defence lawyers said no items in relation to the Greysteel robbery were found on the defendants and there is nothing placing the alleged robbers getting into the vehicle both accused were in, saying there was the colour of the vehicle allegedly seen in the area was disputed.

One insisted: "There is no nexus between the green RAV4 and the robbery. There are substantial weaknesses in the crown case."

Judge Broderick adjourned Mr Redmond's case until Thursday in Ballymena when a bail application is expected.

Mr Carroll's case was adjourned to Coleraine magistrates court next week.