GARDAI INVESTIGATING A RAMMING AT THE POST OFFICE IN BARNADEARG, OUTSIDE TUAM THIS MORNING, HAVE APPEALED FOR WITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT.

A CAR RAMMED THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE POST OFFICE IN BARNADEARG AT ABOUT 7AM THIS MORNING.

THE DRIVER OF THE CAR, MANAGED TO SMASH THE FRONT GLASS WINDOWS OF THE PREMISES BY REVERSING HIS CAR, A DARK COLOURED VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, AT SPEED AT IT A NUMBER OF TIMES.

THE SUSPECT, A MAN IN HIS MID TWENTIES, THEN MANAGED TO GET INTO THE POST OFFICE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. GARDAÍ BELIEVE THE SAFE MAY HAVE BEEN THE TARGET OF THE RAID, BUT THE MAN LEFT WITHOUT IT.IT HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED IF ANYONE ELSE WAS IN THE CAR.HE GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND SPED OFF.

GARDAI HAVE SINCE LOCATED THE CAR BURNT OUT IN THE CLOONFAD AREA. A NUMBER OF LINES OF ENQUIRY ARE UNDERWAY. GARDAI ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR THE DRIVER.

GARDAI ARE APPEALING TO ANYONE WHO WAS IN THE BARNADEARG AREA BETWEEN 7-7.30AM THIS MORNING AND WITNESSED A CAR ACTING SUSPICIOUSLY, THE INCIDENT ITSELF OR A DARK COLOURED PASSAT WITH A DAMAGED BOOT ON ANY OF THE ROADS CLOSE TO BARNADEARG AFTER THAT TIME, TO CONTACT THEM ON 093-24202.