PSNI Officers beside the car which rammed the police vehicle which was on its way in response to the robbery in Kesh.
TWO of the men involved in the robbery of the Northern Bank in Kesh in February 2009 have been jailed at Derry Crown Court.
Both men were jointly convicted of robbing the Northern Bank in Kesh of £5,400 and €1,200, and with being involved in the aggravating taking of a car which was then driven dangerously on roads including Killadeas Road, Kesh and Boa Island Road, Kesh.
Sean McKay (26) whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry was told that having considered a pre-sentence report, the court believed that the offence, or combination of the offence and one or more offences associated with it, was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified.
The defendant was told he will be jailed for eight years and six months followed by two years on probation.
The defendant was also ordered to complete the, ‘Think First’ programme and ordered to attend for alcohol/ drug counselling as directed by probation.
Fellow accused Sean Moran (38) from Monagh Drive in Belfast was also told his offending had passed the custody threshold.
He was sentenced to ten years and six months in prison and ordered to complete two years’ probation on release from HMP Maghaberry.
Upon release the defendant was also ordered to complete the ‘Think First’ programme and any other programmes recommended by probation.
This defendant was told that, if he had not consented to this probation order, the term of imprisonment would have been twelve years and six months
The court also ordered that coats, gloves, hats, various other items of clothing, a knife sheath, two black handled knife, black handled pocket knife, a letter opener, a brown handled knife, bag and white powder be forfeited and destroyed.
The bank raid
An earlier court hearing was given details of the bank raid.
At around 1.55pm on Friday February 20, 2009, four males carrying knives and a hammer entered the Northern Bank in Kesh.
Three of the men made their way to the counter, and a large quantity of money was stolen. Four males made off in a car parked outside the bank.
They were followed by a police car which was rammed, and police officers sustained injury as a result. The men then took off in a second stolen car and fled outside the jurisdiction. They were subsequently found in Donegal town.
Two of the men arrested had been staying at the Abbey Hotel in Donegal town overnight
Commenting on the sentencing, Detective Sergeant John McConnell, said: “There was a great deal of cross border co-operation in this investigation. I would like to thank the officers from An Garda Síochaná who were involved, for their continued support.
“It is also important to thank all of the witnesses, who came forward, gave statements and assisted in ensuring that these individuals were brought before the courts. Without their assistance, this investigation couldn’t have been pursued with the vigour that it was.”
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