Armed robbery foiled at Quantum factory

April 2001

A special unit of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation probes if there is a link between a foiled robbery at the Quantum factory in Dundalk and hi-jackings of computer equipment in North Dublin.

Shortly after 11pm two security men are overpowered at Quantum, tied up and held hostage by two armed raiders, dressed in boiler suits and wearing balaclavas. One carries a sawn-off shotgun.

Then, around midnight, a Northern Ireland-registered lorry is admitted to the factory by other armed gang members. Computer components, worth £500,000, are loaded with a forklift.

As two men drive the lorry out of Quantum, they are confronted by gardaí who have commandeered a passing lorry to block the vehicle’s path as other officers, detectives and members of the Emergency Response Unit, acting on a report of activity in the area, surround the Quantum facility.

After a brief scuffle, the duo is arrested. Inside the premises one of the other men holding the security guards is apprehended but his accomplice escapes. Investigators believe that at least one other gangster, acting as look-out, also gets away.

As a hunt continues for those men, gardaí attempt to trace the origin of the rigid body lorry with curtain sides. A shotgun is found hidden between boxes and pallets in the factory.

Both occupants of the lorry are taken to Ashbourne garda station, while the third man arrested is brought to Balbriggan. One is from Dundalk and the others are from Dublin.

It is expected that charges will be brought against the three men who are subsequently released. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Meanwhile, the special unit looks into possible links with hi-jacking incidents over the last two years in the vicinity of Dublin airport and Swords.