Tag Archives: Clare crime

TWO men appeared in court this Monday, April 19, charged with possessing €50,000 worth of cannabis, found by gardai in a wooded area in County Clare last Friday, writes David Raleigh. Paul Collopy, (45), originally from Limerick, but with an address at Childers Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, and, Benedict Brady, (58), with an address at Tiermaclane, Ballyea, Ennis, Co. Clare, appeared before Limerick District Court. Both accused men are charged with possessing the drugs for sale or supply, as well as their own use, contrary to Section 15 and Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. They are alleged to have had the drugs in their possession on April 16 last, at Carnelly House, Clarecastle, Co. Clare. Detective Garda Denis Stack, Ennis Garda Station, said he charged Mr Collopy with both offences, at Ennis Garda Station, at 5.08pm on April 18. In reply to both charges, Mr Collopy told the detective: “That’s a stitch up, 100% total stitch up.” …

A MAN wearing a hazmat suit stole the contents of the till at a shop in a Clare town in the early hours of Monday morning. At 1.05am the man entered the Centra on the Gort Road wearing the white hazmat suit with a hood, blue face mask and orange gloves. He was also carrying an implement. The man threatened the member of staff and left with the contents of the till. Thankfully nobody was injured but this was a very traumatic incident for the staff member. This male left on foot in the direction of the Gort Road / Watery Road. We are asking if anyone saw this male or anything suspicious or anyone who may have dash cam footage to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100,” said Sergeant Triona Brooks, Crime Prevention Officer.

STAFF members of a Chinese restaurant in a county Clare town bravely challenged a robber carrying a knife, who then fled the scene empty handed. At approximately 10pm on Saturday night, April 17, a teenager wearing a black hoody, black face mask and carrying a knife entered the Shannon Palace Chinese Restaurant in Tullyvarraga, Shannon. He demanded money from the front of house staff member, who ran to the back of the restaurant. According to Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Triona Brooks, “This male was challenged by other members of staff and left the scene empty handed. Thankfully nobody was injured in this robbery. “We are asking for the assistance of the public in this investigation. If anyone was in the vicinity of the restaurant and saw this male or anyone who may have dash cam footage please contact Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900.”

A NUMBER of Clare people have fallen victim to online and phone scams during the week, including a fake car sale on Facebook. A man paid €6,000 to an English bank account for a car that had been advertised on a Facebook page. The €6,000 payment was also to cover delivery of the car. However, the car never arrived and he has since failed to make contact with the seller. Crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks also notified of two women who received a text purporting to be from Bank of Ireland notifying them that there had been financial outgoing requests made on their accounts. “I too got the same text,” said Sgt Brooks, “even though I don’t have an account with BOI. “It asks the person to follow a link which unfortunately the two ladies did and they then realised that a substantial amount of money had been taken from their accounts.” Another man who applied online for a …

CLARE gardai have warned the public of a number of sophisticated scams in operation in the county at the moment and have appealed for vigilance. Crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks has highlighted a number of scams and provided advice on the proper way to respond to suspicious solicitations on the phone and online. One of the main examples of scams currently in operation is the so-called ‘Technical Support and Impersonation Scam’. Fraudsters set up fake customer support phone numbers and impersonate a variety of legitimate companies. These scam phone numbers are placed on the internet to attract unsuspecting victims seeking assistance from what they believe to be the legitimate company. The scammers who are skilled in social engineering have the ability to deceive and manipulate victims into providing their personal data. Gardai have also warned of giveaway/competition scams whereby the perpetrators use social media to advertise a fake giveaway. They post forged or fake screen shots of messages from …

GARDAI are seeking witnesses after an armed robbery in the early hours of Sunday morning from a convenience store. At 3.39 a.m. on Sunday, March 7 a lone male entered Centra on the Gort Road Ennis carrying a large knife. He went behind the counter and ordered the attendant to place the contents of the till into a white bag which he did – he then left on foot running out the Gort Road. The man was wearing a black jacket, navy pants, black beanie hat, black runners and black face mask. The members of staff weren’t injured but this was a very traumatic incident for them. Gardai have asked anyone who was in the area of Centra on the Gort Road in the early hours of Sunday morning between 3.15 a.m. and 4 a.m. and saw a male matching this description or anyone who has dash cam footage to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.

GARDAÍ in Clare have issued a warning about a ‘phishing’ scam after a large sum of money was taken from a bank account at the weekend. “Phishing is when a fraudulent email or text tricks the receiver into sharing their personal, financial or security information,” explained Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. On Saturday at 3.40pm a lady received a text purporting to be from her bank saying that her account had been used for an online transaction and if she believed that this was fraudulent to click on an attached link. “The lady followed the link and provided all her banking details as she believed it was from her bank,” said Sergeant Brooks. “The woman then received a call from a person from her bank and two authorisation codes were sent in a text to the lady and she gave these codes to the man. “Unfortunately later that day she realised that a large sum of money had …

THE head of the Clare Garda Division has said new legislation that aims to apply consecutive prison terms on repeat burglars should have a positive impact and make communities safer. Chief Superintendent John Kerin, who in recent months called for consecutive sentences for persistent burglars, said he welcomed any legislation that would assist them in taking “recidivist criminals, especially burglars, off the streets”. In recent weeks there have been a plethora of burglaries in the Cratloe area, while gardaí in North Clare are investigating a series of burglaries that occurred in Bellharbour, Ballyvaughan, Tubber and Crusheen during the last two weeks. There are two main provisions in the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill, with the first aimed at imposing consecutive jail terms on burglars who have previous burglary convictions. The second part of the bill contains an amendment of the bail laws to enable judges to refuse a bail application to anyone facing multiple charges and with previous convictions. …