06/08/2002

Police appeal after robbery and paramilitary-style beating

Police are appealing for witnesses after an armed robbery in west Belfast yesterday afternoon.

At around 3.20pm yesterday, a security guard was robbed as he made a cash delivery to a post office on the Stewartstown Road. As he entered the building, the security guard was approached by a man armed with a handgun who forced him to hand over a cashbox. The gunman then made off with what has been described as a "substantial sum of money".

The robber escaped in a white Nissan car with a male accomplice, which was later found abandoned at Kerrykeel Gardens.

The armed man was described as being in his 30s, about 5ft 10" tall, well built and wearing a white baseball cap, light trousers and black vest. He is believed to have dark hair.

The driver of the car was described as being of similar age and height, of light build with cropped blond hair and wearing a yellow T-shirt with blue and red stripes, and dark blue jeans.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact detectives at Grosvenor Road on 028 9065 0222.

Elsewhere, at around 12.40am this morning a man was beaten in a paramilitary-style attack in Killyleagh and ordered to leave the area.

The 29-year-old victim was in a house in the Castleview area when four masked men forced their way into the building.

He was then beaten with hammers before a fifth man pointed a gun at his head and ordered him to leave Killyleagh.

The man sustained a broken finger and severe bruising to the ankles during the attack.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

(GMcG)

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