AIB branch two men armed with handguns knocked straight through a wall from an adjoining derelict building as staff were closing for the day

AIB branch two men armed with handguns knocked straight through a wall from an adjoining derelict building as staff were closing for the day.No customers were in the bank at the time and gardai confirmed that no one was harmed and that no shots were fired. A number of other men are understood to have been lying in wait outside.
The gang made off with what is being described as "a significant sum of money". Speculation in Edenderry was that up to €300,000 could have been taken. However, gardai would not disclose how much was involved. Detectives were last night examining the scene which has been sealed off. They are also on the look-out for a blue Volvo car which was seen in the vicinity immediately after the raid.
Investigators were checking CCTV footage from the bank and the general area to see if the raiders were captured on film. As roadblocks were set up, gardai began house to house inquiries. Terrified staff said they were too traumatised to say anything when asked for comment last night.PD councillor Fergus McDonnell expressed concern for the town, saying it was "unfortunate in being targeted again, particularly so soon".He also sympathised with the staff of the bank, noting that "it has to be extremely traumatic to be subject to such an ordeal".
"Hopefully they can come through it," he added.
Less than two weeks ago, on September 8, armed raiders terrified staff and customers at the same AIB branch.On that occasion, two young men, travelling on the same motorbike, pulled up outside the bank on the town's main street at 11.40am.
As they entered the bank, they shouted at customers to "get back" before making their way to the counter and demanding cash from the teller.They were armed with a silver revolver and threatened an elderly customer. One man was described as being about six foot and was wearing a black top, black trousers, white runners and a charcoal helmet. The second raider, who was about the same height, was wearing a black top with white stripes, black trousers and a dark helmet.
The pair escaped on the motorbike in the direction of Dublin with an undisclosed sum of money. Commenting on last night's raid, local councillor Noel Cribbin said he has long been critical of the presence of a number of unoccupied and derelict buildings on the main street and has repeatedly called on the local council to see to it that the streetscape was improved.