Ballina gardai foil 'hole in roof' raiders

GARDAI disrupted a gang at the site of attempted break-ins in Ballina in the early hours of St. Patrick's Day.

The raiders, who fled before they could be apprehended, tried to force entry through the roof at Ballina Mart and the Homeland Store (NCF) at Lord Edward Street.

Gardai have appealed for anybody who noticed suspicious vehicular activity or movement of individuals in the vicinity of either premises from midnight onwards on Friday to contact them at (096) 21422.

Ballina based Garda Superintendent Joe Doherty has also appealed to the owners of business premises not to hold large amounts of money on their properties.