Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
They raided ATMs for £100,000s in Tayside and elsewhere... but crooks cost YOU £1m
Now, it has emerged that the notorious hole-in-the-wall gang’s misery didn’t end with their brazen crimes — as their legal fees cost taxpayers in the UK a staggering £1 million.
Organised criminals Andrew White, Michael Galea, Nanu Miah, Anthony White, Gary Carey, Carl Cavanagh and Anthony Conroy — most of whom are from the northwest of England — blew up or dragged out cash machines from shops across Britain in one of the country’s most notorious crime sprees of recent years. Their targets included Co-op stores in Carnoustie and Perth. They were only caught when police tracked them down to a McDonald’s restaurant in Arbroath, where armed officers shot out the tyres of their getaway car, and their run of crimes was brought to an end. But their impact on society didn’t stop at the terror they caused communities, the huge levels of cash they nicked or damage they caused. It stretched to a massive legal bill for their trial in Liverpool earlier this year, which included the costs of solicitors and barristers to fight their causes, all covered by legal aid.
The case ended with the men being jailed for a collective 92 years.
Today, community leaders said that the figure would shock locals.
Angus Provost Ronnie Proctor said: “To think that the UK taxpayer has to pay £1 million is unbelievable.
“I don’t think it’s fair to expect the UK taxpayer to foot the bill when it comes to this much.
“The taxpayer is always clobbered for paying up when it shouldn’t have anything to do with them.
“I know everyone has the right to a fair trial but part of me always thinks if you commit a crime like this then you face the consequences.”
Carnoustie councillor Mark McDonald (pictured inset) said: “This was a terrible crime to happen in a place like Angus. I am by no means an expert on the English legal system — but the headline figure does come as quite a shock.
THEY were the crooks who led police on a year-long manhunt as they raided ATMs in Tayside and beyond for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“People deserve the right to a fair trial, though, and it was great to see the police apprehend these criminals and the Crown Prosecution Service secure convictions for the fear and alarm these men caused.”
Gavin Farmer, a Carnoustie community councillor for 25 years, said the incident had been “shocking” for Carnoustie.
He added:“I think it’s disgusting that they have got that much in legal aid. While I agree everyone has the right to a fair trial, there surely must be a limit on it.”
A Legal Aid Agency spokeswoman said: “Anyone facing a Crown Court trial is eligible for legal aid, subject to a strict means test.
“Applicants who meet the relevant means thresholds may still be required to pay a significant contribution towards the costs of their defence.”