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Tag Archives: Clare crime

No bail for ‘ghost in jurisdiction’ found near stolen SUV with key

A man found near a stolen SUV in Shannon and allegedly in unlawful possession of a vehicle diagnostic unit was “somewhat of a ghost in this jurisdiction”, a court has heard. Michal Grzegorek (31), of no fixed abode, was arrested in Shannon in August in close proximity to a stolen Range Rover, Ennis district court heard. Opposing Grzegorek’s application to be released on bail, Garda Robert Grant, of Shannon Garda station, said the accused was located approximately 500 metres from the vehicle in Shannon on August 25. Garda Grant said Grzegorek could not account for his movements on the night nor his proximity to the vehicle. The garda said Grzegorek was searched and is alleged to have had in his possession, a Range Rover key and a diagnostic key for vehicles. Grzegorek is charged that at Shannon garda station Tullyvarraga, Shannon on August 25, when not at his place of residence, he possessed a Range Rover key and an on-board …

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Clare properties searched in Interpol probe into African gang

PROPERTIES in county Clare were among a number searched in an Interpol investigation into organised crime, it has emerged. An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with Interpol and Law Enforcement Agencies across 13 countries on four continents carried out enforcement activity under Operation Jackal, or Operation Skein, as it is named in Ireland. As part of Operation Jackal, nine premises were searched in Dublin and Clare and 11 persons were arrested and detained under Organised Crime legislation. Twenty-three persons were arrested for the purpose of charging and 62 charges were levied for money laundering, with three more for organised crime offences. As part of Operation Jackal a week of international Law Enforcement action was planned for the week commencing September 26. Led by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) due to the volume of arrests/ detentions/ charges in Ireland, the period of action commenced in mid-August. The searches and detentions were conducted by GNECB. The arrests for charging were conducted …

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Clare man accused of quick-fire crime spree refused bail

A MAN alleged to have carried out a burglary and four thefts over a 45-minute period in Ennis on Wednesday, has been refused bail.  Nathan Egan (29), with an address at Sandfield Court, Ennis, appeared at Ennis district court this Thursday charged in connection with a series of offences at businesses in the town centre on October 12.  Egan is charged with stealing various items from Haven Pharmacy, Abbey Street; Lifestyle sports, High Street, and Eurogiant, O’Connell Square.  He is also accused of stealing a racer bike valued at €1000 at the Friary car park.  Egan is further charged with entering the Queens Hotel as a trespasser with intent to commit theft.  Garda Joe Kearney told the court he arrested Egan on Abbey Street at 6.20pm on October 12. The court heard the accused was charged with five offences.  Garda Kearney said the accused made no reply to any of the charges after caution. Solicitor Tara Godfrey applied for bail …

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Ballard was covered in blood and said, ‘I think I killed Sharon’

AT THE sentencing hearing last Friday of Patrick Ballard for the murder of Sharon Bennett in Ennis in early 2021, Detective Garda Noelle Bergin detailed the background to the incident. She told prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC that Ms Bennett died on February 10, 2021 having been assaulted by Bennett two weeks earlier on January 28. Outlining the events that led up to the murder, Mr McGinn said that both Ms Bennett and Ballard had been living in temporary accommodation in Ennis and were habitually drinking in the centre of Ennis on the afternoon of January 28. At the time of “the violence” the pair had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, added the detective. At one point, there was a “clear disagreement” between the accused and Ms Bennett, which resulted in the mother-of-two kicking or “striking” Ballard in the face. Ms Bennett, Ballard and a third man Hussein ‘Jamesie’ Abdullah left the car park area to enter a public toilet …

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‘Our lives are devastated…life is not long enough for what he did to my daughter. It was a brutal, brutal attack’

THE father of 29-year-old Sharon Bennett, who was repeatedly kicked and had her head “danced on” by her partner in a public toilet, has said that their lives are “devastated” and described her murder as a nightmare from which they cannot wake up. PJ Bennett told the Central Criminal Court this Friday that he was sorry he had let his daughter down and that he did not protect her enough. He added: “I would like to say that I don’t blame the Ballard family for what happened to my daughter. I blame Patrick Ballard only; we have all lost here”. Mr Bennett also told the court how Covid restrictions meant the family were not permitted to see Sharon in intensive care for five days after she was admitted to hospital and could not hold a proper funeral when she passed away. Sentencing judge Mr Justice Paul Burns noted that the circumstances of the killing were “truly harrowing and grim” and …

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Man kicked and stamped partner causing her death, court told

A 35-year-old man carried out “a violent attack” on his partner, mother-of-two Sharon Bennett, by “repeatedly” kicking and stamping on her head in a public toilet in Ennis last year, a prosecution barrister has told a murder trial. Defence counsel Mark Nicholas SC, for Patrick Ballard, told the 12 jurors that his client admitted that his actions caused the death of his partner Ms Bennett and accepted that her killing was unlawful. However, Mr Ballard (35), formerly of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Bennett (29) in the Market area of Ennis on February 10, 2021. Mr Ballard and Ms Bennett were in a relationship at the time of the alleged murder. Ms Bennett was a mother of two girls, then aged nine and six, from a previous relationship. In his opening address on Wednesday, prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn SC said Ms Bennett died on February 10 2021 as a result of a …

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Garda app to help people record property and put off thieves

AN Garda Síochána have unveiled a newly developed mobile app for people to record their personal property. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks explains, “The new Property App supports An Garda Síochána’s efforts to encourage people to clearly mark their property and make a record of it – property that is well marked is less attractive to a thief and more difficult to sell on.” The app enables you to take photographs and record receipts, store registration codes and property markings. Any information entered into the app is either stored locally on the device or backed up to your cloud account. No data will be stored by An Garda Síochána, she outlines. If the user’s property recorded is stolen they can use the report feature on the app to report the theft to An Garda Síochána. “In addition, having a record on the app about your property will greatly assist investigating Gardaí in the event of a theft. “Also, …

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Cigarettes and alcohol taken from east Clare business premises

GARDAI in Clare are investigating a number of burglaries and thefts across the county. On Thursday evening last, September 29, between 7.05 p.m. and 7.15 p.m. a number of persons entered a business premises on Main Street, Tulla. A quantity of cigarettes and alcohol were stolen and a black Skoda Octavia was seen in the area at the time. If anyone saw this vehicle or anyoe who may have dash cam footage they are asked to contact Killaloe Garda Station on 061 620540. In Carron, on the same night between 10pm and Friday morning, a silver 8 x 4 flat body trailer with a high ramp and ladder rack was stolen from a farmyard in Poulacarron. Meanehile between 9.20pm and 9.50pm a Team MX 26” child’s mountain bike with bright yellow and black writing on the crossbar was taken from the green area in the Ard Na Deirge estate in Killaloe. Clare crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks said, “If …

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