Bank staff should not be criticised for an armed gang taking some €200,000 in a tiger robbery in Dublin yesterday until an investigation into the matter is complete, the Irish Bank Officials Association has said.
Larry Broderick, IBOA general secretary, said it was unfair to say the target of the robbery should have alerted the authorities while the kidnapping was in progress.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has ordered an investigation into the incident at the AIB in Crumlin after procedures for such incidents were deemed not to have been followed.
"Whatever about other procedures that may be in place to flag abnormal withdrawals of cash in bank branches, it is intolerable that a bank official under threat to his or her own life or those of loved ones or friends should also now be expected to take risks with their safety," Mr Broderick said.
He said many bank officials live in a state of near paranoia and fear they are under surveillance by criminal gangs every time they leave to go to work.
"Even in the most traumatic circumstances, bank officials endeavour to act responsibly and in line with established procedures," he said.
"I think it is presumptious to jump to conclusions about supposed staff failures before a thorough investigation of all of the circumstances has been completed."
Mr Broderick said the question of banks being loath to make proper provision for the personal protection of their staff in their homes as well as in the workplace should be considered.
"For our part IBOA is contacting the retail banks and the Garda authorities for an urgent review of all aspects of security in order to ensure that our members safety receives the highest priority."