Bank workers who are victims of robberies will no longer have to identify suspected robbers face-to-face, it emerged today.
The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell revealed financial staff would be allowed to pick out alleged criminals from a parade on a numbering system. In the past bank clerks who had been robbed had to physically touch a suspect in order to identify them at a line-up.
But after years of lobbying by the Irish Bank Officials Association the system is to be changed on foot of advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Larry Broderick, IBOA general secretary, said the move would help ease people's fears over coming face-to-face with criminals before a trial.
"There have been cases in the past where staff have feared for their and their families' safety if they publicly identified suspects," he said.
"The announcement from Minister McDowell will alleviate that sense of fear and encourage staff to participate at ID parades."
He said it was important that every encouragement should be given to witnesses to come forward and identify suspects free from any potential intimidation.
The IBOA also suggested a joint working group of gardaí, Department of Justice officials, bank and security staff representatives should be set up to monitor security levels in the financial sector.