**BREAKING** Phoneline blackout after Cootehill robbery

 

Thieves behind a robbery at a filling station in Cootehill have caused widespread disruption after they destroyed phone network cables connecting the local area.

It's understood the ATM machine, as well as cash and cigarettes were the primary target of the early morning raid at the Mace shop and Top filling station at Drumman on the Cavan Road.

The incident occurred at around 3.45am today (Wednesday, August 28).

After damaging the local network phone cables located across the road in order to by-pass the filling station's alarm system, two men then entered the shop premises before fleeing the scene with a “sum of cash”.

Along with cutting the phone cables connecting the shop itself, those involved in the raid also severed phone and internet connections for the rest of the east county market town, with the local branch of Bank of Ireland and others reportedly shut as a result.

A number of Eir vans and technicians are currently at the scene at Drumman working to mend the damage.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana confirmed: “Gardaí are investigating a suspected burglary which occurred at a shop in Drumman, Cootehill, Co Cavan on Wednesday 28th of August 2019 at approximately 4am. It’s understood two men entered the shop and fled with a sum of cash. It’s believed there was also damaged to the exterior of the premises.”

A spokesperson for Bank of Ireland acknowlegded that the business in the town has been impacted by the incident. “Systems in the Bank of Ireland Cootehill branch are currently down following overnight EIR fibre cable damage between Cootehill and Tullyvin. EIR engineers are currently working to repair the fault and Bank of Ireland expects a full systems restoration to take place this evening. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Eir has been contacted for comment.