Locals in fear after post office raids

SOUTHSIDERS have expressed concern about the level of security at a local post office after a robbery and a separate violent attempted theft occurred at the same premises in the space of a week recently.

Locals in Walkinstown say elderly residents, who use the post office on Bunting Road, are fearful of returning to the branch where one man stole an undisclosed sum on Friday, July 6.

A week later, at about 9am on Friday, July 13 two men attempted to steal more money from the same office. A postal worker was injured during the attempted robbery when one of the men fired a shot through a glass panel.

However, the men aborted the attempted robbery and did not get away with any cash.

Three men who were arrested in relation to both incidents have all since been released without charge. A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the incidents.

Mary Thomas, the vice chairperson of the Walkinstown Residents’ Association, said locals had been concerned about security at the post office before the recent incidents took place.

“For years we have been worried about the post office because it is just a prefab and it is out on a limb,

? she said.

“It is too easily accessible and too easy to get away from. There is little protection for the workers. You would know by looking at it that it is not secure enough.

“People are very upset,

? she added.

“They are worried about it, especially the people who have to go back there and collect their pensions. They don’t know what is going to face them. People are hoping for a more secure post office.

?

Paul Flanagan, the chairperson of the Walkinstown and Greenhills’ Network, also called on An Post to review security at the branch.

“The older people are worried about going to the post office,

? he stated.

“I think it needs to be looked at in terms of what safety it offers people.

?

Cllr Ruairí McGinley (FG) said he had contacted An Post several times over the last two years in an attempt to persuade the company to move the outlet to another premises because of what he described as the

“dilapidated

? conditions at the current branch.

“It is just a step up from a prefab,

? he said.

“If you imagine a prefab with a couple of bricks. It would have been easy to rob. It is not a secure building.

?

A spokesperson for An Post said:

“We fully appreciate people’s views in the aftermath of what happened in Walkinstown. An Post does not comment on individual security incidents.

“However, it is fair to say that An Post takes post office security very seriously and our security measures and procedures are subject to constant review.

?

A spokesperson for the Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte, said the minister had

“no comment

? to make on the matter.