A substantial sum of money has been taken in raid on a bank in north Dublin this morning after a bank official and her family were held hostage overnight.
Gardaí could not confirm how much was taken from the Permanent TSB branch at the Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock, but one report said it may involve over €1 million.
A Garda spokesman said they were investigating the "false imprisonment" of a member of staff and her family in Co Louth in relation to the raid.
Several armed men are understood to have entered the family home in Clogherhead late yesterday evening and made demands for money.
Gardaí said all members of the family were released uninjured early this morning.
Permanent TSB confirmed that a security incident involving an employee of one of the bank's Dublin branches and their family took place overnight.
"On being advised of the incident this morning, the bank immediately notified the gardaí of the matter," it said in a statement.
Labour Party's spokesperson on justice Brendan Howlin said that the incident pointed to the easy manner in which criminal gangs are able to operate.
"We have been assured that the banks and cash transit firms had put in place new procedures that would have ended robberies based on the taking of hostages, but these gangs still appear able to walk away with huge sums of money with ridiculous ease," said Howlin.
"It's high time the Gardai, the banks and the transit companies sat down and put together procedures that actually protect bank workers and their families, and prevent these crimes from taking place."