ARMED raiders used a deadly new ploy in their bid to evade capture from a local bank heist last Friday - spraying their getaway route with specially made iron spikes, immediately bursting the tyres of chasing garda patrol cars.

Even innocent civilians travelling in the vacinity had their tyres punctured by the inch and a half long metal spurs as mayhem ensued following the robbery.

It is believed the use of the spikes is a manoeuvre only employed in one other raid in the country in recent times.

The metal spikes which were tossed from the raiders' car, a red Audi, were three sided. They had been specially welded using the internal metal rods found in concrete blocks.

'These were like works of art, someone had spent time making these and welding them before they were scattered all over the Barn Road,' said one eyewitness.

The drama occurred in Dunleer at 4.05pm when two men entered the local branch of the Bank of Ireland and after holding up staff made off with a bag of cash, believed to be less than € 15,000.

After jumping into a waiting getaway car, the trio of bandits raced at speed down the Barn Road towards Clogherhead but close to the railway bridge near the Bitech factory, they hurled a huge number of the spikes from the vehicle, virtually blocking the road as chasing vehicles raced onto them, piercing and deflating their tyres.

Gardai will be greatly concerned by the use of the spikes, which can be used to immobilise pursuit cars.

Superintendent Gerry Smith has appealed for any witnesses who may have been on Main Street, Dunleer or in the vicinity of the bank on last Friday between 3pm and 4.15pm and who may have seen anything suspicious to come forward. ARMED raiders escaped with a small amount of cash following an armed robbery on the Bank of Ireland in Dunleer on Friday afternoon.

Two men wearing balaclavas smashed their way into the back of the bank and held up the shocked staff just as the premises was closing for the weekend.

After the pair jumped into a waiting vehicle, metal spikes were thrown onto the Barn Road as the patrol car from Dunleer chased the suspects. Both of its front tyres and a number of civilian vehicles were damaged by the twisted pieces of metal which were scattered all over the road.

Superintendent Gerry Smith stated that at 4.10pm, a dark coloured Toyota Carina drove into the bank car park at the building's rear. The two occupants who were hooded and wearing high visibility vests, got out and smashed the rear window with a concrete block. They put a chain around the security bars, tied it onto the Carina's towbar and pulled the bars out of the wall. They climbed into the premises through the broken window.

One of them who appeared to be carrying a hand gun, demanded money.

Reports that € 15,000 was stolen was described as 'probably too high', according to informed sources.

The gang set fire to the Carina and the flames spread to another car parked beside it.

Within minutes, the two men left the bank via the smashed window and ran round the side of the building.

On Dunleer's Main Street, they jumped into a red Audi A4 estate with a Northern Ireland registration number YF 55 GWW. Its driver, who was also wearing a balaclava left the scene at high speed in the direction of Clogherhead. The red Audi was later found burnt out at Dillonstown Community Centre.

Drogheda gardai are appealing for anyone who was in Dunleer between 3pm and 4.15pm and may have seen the occupants of the Carina or the red Audi to come forward.

- Christine DOHERTY