PSNI defends digger raid response

A digger was used to remove the cash machine

The owner of a Fermanagh supermarket where a cash machine was stolen with a digger on Saturday has criticised the police response to the robbery.

Declan McCabe said police were called at 0430 BST to say thieves were removing the ATM from the shop on the Clones Road in Newtownbutler.

However, he said they did not arrive until 12 hours later.

Police said they investigated straight away, but had to be cautious due to the terrorist threat in the area.

"Additional resources were allocated to the investigation including the police helicopter and additional officers," a PSNI statement said.

"The people of Fermanagh are well aware that policing in the county is being delivered against the backdrop of a significant threat from dissident republican criminals, who have shown their determination to kill officers.

"Policing is being delivered but officers' safety is a priority and that may mean that, at times, we need to be cautious in our approach to some crime scenes."

However, Mr McCabe said the length of time it took for officers to attend the scene was "absolutely diabolical".

"We pay our rates towards the police service to protect the community - they should be protecting the community first and then themselves afterwards," he said.

"I'm getting no discount on my rates in Newtownbutler, the local residents are getting no discount and we deserve the same response that anybody else in Northern Ireland would have."

After removing the ATM from the shop, the robbers set the digger on fire and escaped in a white vehicle with cash.

Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them.