Feature: The Athy Bank Robbery 35 Years Later - Three Witnesses Retell The Infamous Incident

Sunday, 12 January 2025 10:24

By Hannah Kelly

Newspaper reports of the incident. Images: News around Athy on Facebook, Irish Newspaper Archives

On January 12th 1990, five armed criminals carried out an attempted bank robbery in Athy's Bank of Ireland

A video of the interview, including photos, newspaper clipping and newspaper archives can be watched here:

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the infamous attempted bank robbery in Athy, which saw one of the most notable incident's Ireland's Emergency Response Unit (ERU) has seen.

On January 12th, 1990, five armed individuals carried out a bank raid in the Bank of Ireland branch in Athy.

Two of the leaders were former members of the provisional IRA.

The group attempted to steal cash from the bank, but had been followed by an undercover unit of the ERU.

The Special Detective Unit surrounded Emily Square, and had one member positioned in the top storey of the nearby town hall, monitoring the situation.

The armed gang's modus operandi was to spend a minute or two in the bank, take the money and get out immediately.

However, this was disrupted by the presence of gardaí.

The gang resorted to taking staff, customers and passers-by hostage.

Newspaper clippings of the attempted bank robbery. Images via News around Athy on Facebook

Photographs of outside the bank. Photo Credit: Robert Redmond Studios

The attempted bank robbery reported by the Irish Independent on January 20, 1990, via Irish Newspaper Archives.

26-year-old Austin Higgins, one of the five members of the criminal gang, suffered a fatal gunshot to the head.

Eight people were injured during the incident, but all of the hostages were freed and survived.

The remaining gang of four who were armed, but did not fire their weapons, were apprehended by Gardaí and later received 12-year prison sentences.

Speaking on Friday morning's Kildare Today programme were three witnesses of the incident.

Listen to the full interview here:

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