Bank staff's raid fears highlighted
Many bank staff held up in armed raids across Ireland are too terrified to take part in identity parades, union officials claimed today.
They will not participate because of the threat of later becoming targets for intimidation by suspects under police investigation.
Their fears were raised at a meeting in Belfast between senior civil servants at the Northern Ireland Office and representatives of the Irish Bank Officials association.
It was the first time the two sides met to discuss safety and security issues since the £26.5m. Northern Bank robbery just before Christmas when two staff, Chris Ward and Kevin McMullan were kidnapped and their families held hostage.
Up to 30 staff who worked in the cash distribution centre which was raided were later transferred.
None of the men involved – Chief Constable Hugh Orde has blamed the IRA – has been charged, and virtually all of stolen money is still missing.
Not only will some bank staff refuse to take part in ID parades following robberies, but others are discouraged from going into the witness box to give evidence, according to the the finance union general secretary Larry Broderick whose union represents 20,000 staff, 7,000 in Northern Ireland.
A review of security within Northern Ireland banking, the impact raids have on staff, as well as the issues of identity line-ups, giving testimonies in open court and personal safety were discussed.
Afterwards Mr Broderick said there was a tendency in the aftermath of robberies for the focus to be on the amount stolen or the modus operandi of those responsible. But it should also be remembered that staff went through traumatic and stressful experiences with many unable to continue working out of fear for their safety.
He said: “In many cases following a robbery, staff are afraid to participate in identity parades because the suspected criminal can see and identify the witness. Staff are further discouraged from testifying in court and fulfilling their civic duty because as a result of reportage of the case, where the individual is named, it makes them an easy target for possible intimidation by criminals.”
He revealed the association proposed a solution to the NIO requesting that the bank, and not individual bank officials, be identified following a raid. It was also suggested the media resist identifying victims and instead focus on the financial institution and the criminals concerned.
Mr Broderick added: “There is no extra news value to be gained by adding to the trauma of and naming the individual official who has just gone through a dreadful ordeal and then, because they are publicly outed, are vulnerable to further intimidation and fear.
“The IBOA suggested at the meeting that it would be helpful if the courts, police service and media could set parameters in such cases whereby in future it is the bank as a corporate identity which is named and not the individual bank official.”
