Irvinestown ATM theft 'a disgraceful attack on local community'

The incident at McAleer's Spar on the Dromore Road occured in the early hours of this morning.

It's understood a digger used during the robbery was set on fire.

A spokesperson for the shop said the premises would remain closed "until further notice".

Councillor Raymond Farrell commented: "This is another disgraceful attack on the local community in the county. It is an attack on a local business striving to provide a service to people and yet another blow to people who depend on this service to meet their needs."

He also called on the police to be given greater resources to tackle this type of crime.

"This form of criminality is sadly becoming too regular an occurance and great resources are needed to be given to the PSNI to deal with this before we are starved of this service altogether.

"It is another blow to Irvinestown which has already saw a bank closure in recent times and further depriving the community of an essential service," said the councillor. 

Sinn Féin’s Siobhán Currie has also condemned those responsible for the robbery of an ATM at a filling station in Irvinestown.

The Sinn Féin representative for Irvinestown said: “This is another attack on our rural communities which saw the ATM being stolen from the shop and filling station. The shop is closed as a result.

“McAleer’s, on the Dromore Road, is a family owned business which provides a vital service for the community.

“I would urge the PSNI to increase resources to their dedicated task-force probing ATM thefts in order to tackle this latest spate of robberies in our council area. Similar attacks have recently been carried out in Omagh and Kiltyclogher and several others in recent years.

Jemma Dolan MLA continued: “This is another attack on our rural communities who rely on family run businesses such as McAleer’s to provide valuable services.

 “I would urge anyone with any information to bring it to the PSNI to help catch those responsible.”