Lorry used in attempted murder after ATM theft recovered

No money taken from ATM which thieves stole in smash and grab raid in Newry

The scene of destruction after an ATM was ripped from a petrol station near Newry, Co Down. Photograph: Alan Lewis
The scene of destruction after an ATM was ripped from a petrol station near Newry, Co Down. Photograph: Alan Lewis

Gardaí believe they have recovered the lorry used in the attempted murder of a PSNI officer in south Armagh yesterday afternoon.

A garda spokesman confirmed they believe they have recovered the transporter lorry in county Monaghan.

It was found when gardaí responded to reports of a fire near Castleblayney last night. At the scene they discovered the lorry, which had been set alight.

The scene was preserved overnight and the lorry will now be technically examined.

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The police constable suffered serious injuries when he was struck by the vehicle in a hit and run incident while he was carrying out enquiries into a smash and grab raid on an ATM in a garage near Newry.

A man in his 20s, with an address in Northern Ireland, is to appear before a special sitting of Monaghan district court this afternoon charged in relation to the ATM theft.

He was arrested when gardaí came upon a transit van and three men near Inniskeen, county Monaghan, yesterday morning.

The man was arrested and gardaí say work is continuing to locate the two other men who fled the scene.

It has also emerged that the ATM still contained cash and none of it was actually stolen from it.

The ATM had been loaded with 100,000 pounds sterling when it was filled up during the week and 52,000 pounds sterling has been recovered from the machine.