Tag Archives: An Garda Síochána

SEARCHES have been carried out in Clare and Limerick as part of an investigation into Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) fraud offences. Since May 2020 The Department of Social Protection have engaged with An Garda Síochána investigating multiple Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) fraud offences. The investigation has identified a suspected international organised crime group comprising of persons based in Ireland and other jurisdictions who have engaged in both identity and fraud offences to obtain PUP monies. A total of 28 individuals were identified as being active participants. On Wednesday a number of searches were conducted in Clare and Limerick in connection with this investigation. This is a joint operation involving Department of Social Protection Officials, Gardaí seconded to the Department of Social Protection, Customs and Excise Officials and Gardaí based in Limerick and Clare including Detectives, uniformed personnel, the Armed Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit. A number of items including documentation and related material have been seized and are …

A CLARE woman parted with a “substantial” sum of money after falling for a fraudster, sparking local gardaí to warn the public to be on the look out for potential ‘romance scams’ while looking for love. It has emerged that the woman met a man purporting to be a German engineer living in Galway on an online dating site. The relationship developed and they began privately messaging each other. The man told her he was involved in a project for work and needed money for materials which he would repay, however it emerged that this was a scam. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks explains, “Between September and October this year a lady developed an online relationship with a man who said he was a German engineer living in Galway – the relationship started on a dating site and progressed to What’s App messages. He was very persuasive and told the lady that he was involved in a project …

GARDAÍ are driving home a message to car owners urging greater vigilance when it comes to securing their vehicles. This follows a recent spate of thefts from vehicles across the county. Cars have been targeted by thieves in various locations including Ennis, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Ennistymon. According to Clare’s Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks, “A number of cars have been broken into over the past week and all the cars were unlocked.” Between 10pm last Monday night week and 10am on Tuesday morning loose change was taken from a car parked on Shanaway Road, Ennis. In a separate incident, between 3am and 4.20am last Wednesday there was a report of a male interfering with cars on Carmody Street. Face masks were stolen from one unlocked car. A male was apprehended, arrested and charged and brought before Ennis District Court on Wednesday morning. In the Moyard Estate, Ennis on the night of October 22 a sum of money was stolen …

Ahead of Halloween this year, Clare County Council is advising members of the public not to take part in any activities that are contrary to public health guidelines or measures under Level 5 of the Government’s Covid-19 plan, such as bonfire gatherings. The local authority have also stated that given the current high level of risk associated with Covid-19, children and families should not move between houses to trick-or-treat in the way that traditionally happens at Halloween. Clare County Council and Clare County Fire and Rescue Service are also urging members of the public and businesses not to supply any waste material to persons who do not hold a valid waste collection permit. The call comes in advance of the Hallowe’en period, which traditionally has been used by some people to illegally dispose of waste material on bonfires. The uncontrolled burning of waste, particularly in bonfires, is illegal and releases toxic pollutants into the air, which are known to be …

Gardaí have arrested two men in relation to approximately 10 incidents of burglary and theft in counties Tipperary, Clare, Cork and Limerick. The burglaries took place at petrol stations, post offices and shops, over the last number of months with cash, cigarettes and safes taken. As part of the investigation gardaí arrested two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, on Wednesday, October 21. They are currently detained at Tipperary Town and Nenagh Garda Stations under the provisions of Section 50 Criminal Justice Act, 2007. A car, believed to have been used during the course of the burglaries was also seized and is currently being examined. The arrests took place as result of Intelligence led operation coordinated across the Southern Region over the last number of weeks. The operation focused on an organized crime group believed to have been involved in these offences.

CLARE’S Garda Chief Superintendent has acknowledged the frustration some people may experience as a result of check points set up as part of Operation Fanacht. The policing operation re-commenced on midnight October 6 when the country moved to Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions. Addressing the meeting of Clare’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) last Monday, Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran noted that complacency had begun to set in in terms of following public health guidelines and that part of Operation Fanacht involved making people more aware of the restrictions currently in place. “All of us have become somewhat complacent,” the Chief Superintendent said. “The increase in the Covid-19 figures show this. We are making people more aware of the guidelines.” Currently, three static checkpoints are in place and members of the forces are engaging with the public on the M18 on the Limerick county boundary, as well as in Killaloe and Ennis. Staggered mobile checkpoints are also in use, the Chief Superintendent explained. …

GARDAÍ in Ennis have seized illegal fireworks worth approximately €1,000 and questioned a suspect as part of Operation Tombola. The discovery was made when Gardaí searched a car at Drumbiggle Drive, Ennis shortly before 10pm on Tuesday. No arrests were made but gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. “An Garda Síochána continue to target issues arising from the sale and use of illegal fireworks & associated anti-social behaviour as part of ‘Operation Tombola’. Anyone with information about the importation, sale or use of illegal fireworks is asked to contact their local Garda Station,” stated a spokesperson from the Garda Press Office.

Gardaí have seized €21,500 of suspected cannabis in Clare. Shortly after 7.30pm on Monday, September 21, gardaí from the Kilrush Drugs Unit, assisted by uniform Gardaí from Kilrush, executed a search warrant at a house in the Kilmurry-McMahon area. During the course of the search Gardaí discovered €16,000 of suspected cannabis plants. As Gardaí continued to search the property they discovered €5,500 of suspected cannabis herb. All of the suspected drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. No arrests have been made but Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry.