ATM victim tells minister more help is needed

Catriona Loughran • Published 4 Feb 2010 14:59 0 Comments

Share this

Declan McCabe from Newtownbutler Supervalu (far right) is pictured with Security Minister and chair of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) Paul Goggins MP who met with Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retailers Trade Association (NIIRTA) and other retailers who have been directly affected by ATM robberies.

Declan McCabe, the owner of Supervalu in Newtownbutler, has been forced to invest in a state-of-the art security system to protect his business from any cash machine robberies in the future.

An ATM containing £80,000 was stolen from the supermarket last July causing extensive damage to his premises.

Speaking after a meeting with Security Minister Paul Goggins MP and Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retailers Trade Association (NERTIA) in Belfast on Tuesday, Mr McCabe believes more should be done to help victims of ATM robberies.

"The banks are playing hard ball with local retailers and that's not on. We put our concerns to the Minister about the banks not working enough with retailers to get ATMs re-installed and there has been very little negotiation with them. The Minister listened attentively and admitted that he didn't realise the difficulty retailers are experiencing with banks, compensation agencies and insurers and said he will be seeking meetings with them in the coming weeks to discuss the problem."

• Continued on page three

Joining Mr McCabe in Belfast was Phillip Campbell, whose shop in Kells was ram-raided in December and Philip Dooley from the Hendersons Group, whose shop in Templepatrick also fell victim to ATM ram-raiders.

"I have had to develop the shop at my own expense through cash flow. Compensation agencies have been very slow in getting any money to us and other retailers are experiencing the same problem. Insurance companies are also dragging their heels on paying out and we are simply getting pittance for the re-development work. It's not just a hindrance to ourselves but also to the local community."

Since the attack on his premises, Mr McCabe has been forced to invest in a high-spec security system which he says is "the first of its kind in Northern Ireland".

"It's an expensive system but it's worth it if it prevents any attacks from happening again. We have also employed a security man who monitors the premises night and day but it is all out of my own pocket and more should be done to help us in trying to re-build out business after such attacks."

In a statement Mr Goggins said: "Local businesses have been affected and as a result whole communities are being left without vital amenities. It is important that we work with the local communities to stop those responsible from being able to carry out further attacks and to gather the information necessary to bring the perpetrators before the courts."

Although arrests were made into the Newtownbutler raid, no criminal has been charged or charged for any of the 13 robberies or attempted robberies that took place throughout Northern Ireland last year.

In December, the Minister announced the creation of a dedicated group to counter ATM attacks which will monitor the situation daily and he will meet them again in February.

A reward of £25,000 has been offered for anyone who can help catch the criminals responsible for these thefts.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 04 Feb 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.