Gardaí probe €9,000 missing from station

A Garda investigation is underway after €9,000 in cash that was recovered by gardaí following an armed robbery went missing from storage in a Garda station.

The money was among €26,000 being stored in a safe in Balbriggan garda station after it was recovered following a raid on a post office and shop in Lusk, north Co Dublin, last January.

While evidence in criminal investigations is held until the conclusion of court cases, money is returned to its owner because retaining it could cause financial difficulties.

However, when an evidence bag containing the money was taken from the safe to be returned to the owner, a tear in the bag was spotted. When the cash was then counted it was €9,000 short.

A Garda spokesman said the matter was being treated very seriously and that a superintendent had been appointed by Garda Commisisoner Martin Callinan to oversee the investigation.