Man arrested over ATM theft investigation
A man remains in custody this morning as gardai continue to question him in connection with the thefts of ATM machines across the region.
Gardaí attached to Monaghan Garda Station, supported by the Special Detective Unit (SDU), arrested the male on Monday last, January 6, in the Castleblayney area of Co. Monaghan.
The male, aged in his late 20's, has an address in Northern Ireland.
He was arrested in relation to the ongoing investigation into the theft of ATMs in the northwest and east of the country for an offence contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
He is currently being detained at Monaghan Garda Station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
Yesterday, January 7, as part of Joint Agency Task Force co-ordination, the PSNI in support of An Garda Síochána have carried out a search in the Crossmaglen area of Co. Armagh.
The Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) was established under the Fresh Start Agreement and comprises of members of An Garda Síochána, PSNI, Revenue Commissioners, HM Revenue & Customs, Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Home Office Immigration Enforcement, the Criminal Assets Bureau, and the National Crime Agency.
Gardai are investigating the circumstances behind more than two dozen ATM thefts that occurred across the region, on both sides of the Border.
Among those was a failed attempted theft in Virginia in the early hours of this morning Wednesday, August 14 when uniform and plain clothes Gardaí attached to Cavan/Monaghan Garda Divisions, supported by Garda National Units, intervened and arrested a number of men.
In total five person have been arrested for questioning in relation to that alleged offence.
As part of that investigation gardai seized more than €300,000, and in addition a number of vehicles were removed for further examination from a site at Moynalty, Co. Meath.
Other incidents include a digger being used to remove an ATM from the Bank of Ireland on Main Street in Kingscourt at around 4am on Sunday, March 10; from the Bankof Ireland branch in Ballybay, Co Monaghan in December 2018; and the theft of two ATMs from bank branches in Kells, Co Meath on April 19.
The two ATM machines, one from AIB and one from Bank of Ireland, found abandoned in a wooded area at Barley Hill, about 5km east of Kingscourt on the Meath-Monaghan border. A burnt-out SUV and trailer were also found nearby.
It's estimated the machines contained in the region of about €200,000, having been filled with cash prior to the Easter bank-holiday weekend.
Only last month, just before Christmas, December 20, an attempt was made to remove a cash machine from a bank in Ardee, Co Louth.
A digger and tractor were found at the scene, and a burnt out 4x4 was located a short distance.
A significant amount of damage was caused by the attempted removal of the ATM.