Tag Archives: An Garda Síochána

A CLARE teenage boy was blackmailed for money after he sent explicit images of himself to another person through social media. Gardaí in Clare are now urging parents to become better aware of their children’s online activity in light of the recent incident. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks has described the matter as “very upsetting and traumatic for the parent and teenager”. A report was made to gardaí by the teenager’s mother over the Christmas period. According to Sergeant Brooks the teenage boy believed he was in contact with a woman through Facebook and he sent the explicit pictures of himself to that person. Shortly after this a demand was made for a substantial amount of money, or else the pictures would be shared. “No money was given over and the link was shared with some of his friends but fortunately the link could not be opened,” she outlined. Sergeant Brooks has encouraged parents to speak to their …

GARDAÍ in Clare have issued a number of safety tips for this Christmas. In relation to Covid-19 gardaí advise that every contact counts. “If you must meet up this Christmas keep your contacts to a minimum, wear a mask if you can’t stay two metres apart and follow the HSE guidelines for your safety and others,” says Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. However, the advice is not confined to Covid safety. “Drink alcohol responsibly and if you are going out plan your night, tell someone where you are going and when you’ll be back. Don’t walk home alone but if you have to walk in well-lit areas,” she urges. People are being reminded to take care when carrying your handbag and phone, keep handbags zipped and don’t put a wallet in your back pocket. “Only take out as much money as you need at ATMs and cover your pin,” she says. Other advice includes not leaving shopping on view …

FOUR out of ten cars examined as part of Operation Curb in Clare this month were found to be “dangerously defective”, according to gardaí. Gardaí from the Divisional Roads Policing Unit in Clare carried out Operation Curb on December 12 last. Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks explains, “The purpose of Operation Curb is to detect and educate road users in relation to road safety and the dangers of modifying cars over the legal limit.” She confirmed a total of ten cars were examined by the PSV inspector, “four of which were found to be dangerously defective. One car, which has recently failed its NCT more than once, was found to have a major defect with its steering rod whilst another car had oversized wheels which would hit the wheel arch when turning.  This affects steering and braking and also causes excessive wear and tear on the tyres. It also causes spray and debris to be thrown back onto following …

A RESOURCE pack for professionals working with children and families, ahead of what is expected to be a particularly difficult Christmas for people affected by domestic abuse has been developed by a network of agencies including An Garda Síochana, Tusla, community support services, legal services and health service providers in County Clare. The Domestic Abuse Resource Pack has been undertaken jointly by The Clare Local Area Network Opposing Violence Against Women (CLAN)* and Tusla Clare Prevention Partnership and Family Support (Clare PPFS) and is supported by Safe Ireland. The network group decided to be proactive ahead of what is expected to be a very difficult time for many families, by launching an interactive, one-stop-shop, of relevant information and supports for those subjected to domestic abuse, their families and the professionals on the frontline supporting them.  This specially designed interactive document and information booklet will be available on the Clare Haven Services website not just at Christmas, but will remain active as …

WITNESSES are being sought after the homes of elderly people in Ennis and Clarecastle were targetted by burglars last week. Both incidents occurred on Friday night, December 4, with gardaí in Ennis appealing to anybody with any information to contact them. The first burglary took place in a house in the Crescent on St Senan’s Road Ennis. At approximately7.40pm an elderly couple were downstairs in their home when they heard a loud noise upstairs. The elderly man went up the stairs and saw that a lock on a bedroom had been opened and that a hall window was open. When he looked out he saw a male wearing a peaked cap sitting on a flat roof of the house. This male then made his escape. There was nothing taken in this burglary, gardaí have confirmed. The second burglary occurred around 8.45pm in a house in Manusmore, Clarecastle. An elderly man who was in bed heard a loud bang in his …

GARDAÍ seized €1,900 of suspected drugs in Kilrush, on Tuesday, December 8. As part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in West Clare, Gardaí from Kilrush executed a search warrant at a house in the Kilrush area at around 11am. During the course of the search Gardaí seized €1,500 of suspected cannabis herb and €400 of suspected benzodiazepine tablets along with a quantity of plastic bags. The suspected drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. No arrests have been made but Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry.

CLARE Haven Services are continuing to shine a light on violence against women having launched a very special virtual candlelit remembrance. Despite Covid-19 the local organisation is currently marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. This annual international campaign running from November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until December 10, Human Rights Day aims to raise awareness and to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Clare Haven’s annual candle-lit walk through the streets of Ennis remembering women and children killed by partners or ex-partners is not possible due to Covid-19. However, Clare Haven Services have joined forces with artist Emma Houlihan, Clare County Library and An Garda Siochana in developing a virtual lighted walk. Dr Siobhán O’Connor, Manager of Services, Clare Haven Services explains, “For the last 12 years, to remember the women who have been killed in County Clare by their partners or ex-partners, Clare …

AN elderly woman was scammed by two bogus tradesmen in Ennis last week, with gardaí appealing to anybody who may have seen them to contact them. Last Tuesday at 12.20pm two men called to the home of the elderly lady on Considine Road. They told her that her attic needed to be insulated and asked could they go up and have a look. The lady showed them the attic opening and when they came down they said that it would cost a substantial amount of money to do the job. She gave them some of the money and they then said they would need the rest before they did the job. She left and went to the credit union and these two males waited outside for her to return, when she did they took the money from her and left. These males were seen in the area in a white van with roof ladders on the top between 12.20 and …