€5.8m still missing after robbery

It has emerged that at least €5.8 million is still missing following last Friday's tiger-style robbery in Dublin city centre.

It was reported this morning that an audit carried out at the weekend determined that sums recovered by gardaí, variously reported to be between two and four million euro, only amounted to €1.8 million.

Some €5.8 million remains at large despite the weekend recovery of some of the cash by gardaí in the Dublin suburbs of Phibsboro and Blanchardstown.

Seven people arrested on Friday night remain in custody after the six men and one woman had their detention period extended yesterday by a judge.

One man was arrested following a car chase car on the M50 close to the Navan Road shortly after 9.30pm and the six other people were arrested in the Dublin 7 area later the same evening.

The seven - who range in ages from early 20s to late 30s - are being held in Blanchardstown, Bridewell, Finglas, Mountjoy and Pearse Street Garda stations under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

Gardaí discovered what they call "a substantial quantity" of cash in the course of the series of arrests. They also seized six cars.

The money was withdrawn from the College Green branch of Bank of Ireland by bank employee Shane Travers after his partner, Stephanie Smith, her mother, Joan Smith, and her five-year-old nephew were taken hostage at their house in Badgers Hill, Kilteel, Co Kildare.

Mr Travers was given a Polaroid photograph to show to his colleagues of his girlfriend, Stephanie Smith, after she had been tied up with her mother, Joan, and her five-year-old nephew. The photograph was to convince Mr Travers's colleagues of the importance of letting him take the money.

It is understood Mr Travers was also given photographs of his co-workers and some of their homes.

Gardaí believe this was to show the others in the bank that the gang had had them under surveillance and to intimidate them so they would not frustrate Mr Travers in taking the ransom money.