Two Men Jailed For Using Explosives To Steal ATM Machine In Armagh

A man who used explosives to try and steal an ATM from a petrol station in Armagh has been jailed.

Ioan Anton, aged 40, was sentenced to one year behind bars and one year one year on licence at Newry Crown Court.

Co-accused, 41 year old Gratian-Ioan Pinter, had previously been sentenced to three years imprisonment, with three years on licence, for causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, and three years, with three years on licence, for attempted burglary, at Newry Crown Court on 17 October 2016.

The pair were arrested following the attempted theft from an ATM machine at a filling station on Annareagh Road, Hamiltonsbawn, during the early hours of Thursday 05 June 2014.

Around 2.30am police received a report of a loud bang in the area and suspicious activity close to the ATM. Officers attended and discovered a suspect device involving gas had exploded close to the ATM. ATO were tasked and the device was made safe and removed for further examination. Anton and Pinter were arrested later that day and an extensive police investigation involving assistance from law enforcement authorities across Europe has ensued since.

Investigating officer Inspector Will Brown said: "This was a protracted investigation led by detectives from Criminal Investigation Branch. We will continue in our efforts to make Northern Ireland a safer place to live and work by proactively investigating and arresting people involved in criminality. Ioan Anton and Gratian-Ioan Pinter became involved in criminality and as a result are now in prison. The sentence handed to them at court should act as a deterrent to others."

(CD/MH)