The Garda Water Unit in Dublin yesterday searched a section of the Grand Canal as part of its investigations into a security van robbery in which a number of cash boxes were stolen.
The search by Garda divers followed reports from witnesses at Hanover Quay who observed men throwing a number of objects into the canal shortly after the robbery at 1.50pm.
Three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, held up a security van crew who were stopped at Macken Street, Dublin, and grabbed two cash boxes. The security van had just collected a sum of money from the Quality Hotel on Cardiff Lane. No shots were fired and no one was injured.
The men fled in a silver BMW which was later found abandoned at Hanover Quay.
Despite receiving reports that the men had thrown the stolen cash boxes into the water at Grand Canal Dock, the search revealed they had instead thrown other items, including a car registration plate, into the canal.
Gardaí were last night satisfied the men had escaped with the cash boxes containing about €3,000.