Tag Archives: criminals

Gardai from the Clare Garda Division are involved in a major search operation across counties Limerick, Clare and Tipperary targeting organised criminality in Limerick City and its environs. Currently nine people are in custody in relation to this operation. As part of Operation Coronation, in excess of 170 members of gardaí from Limerick, Clare and Tipperary Divisions supported by the Criminal Assets Bureau, Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Emergency Response Unit, the Armed Response Unit and Regional Dog Unit commenced a search operation at over 60 premises this morning at 6am. The operation is also supported by three teams of  Irish Army Search Engineers, the Army EOD team and the Army Helicopter. Operation Coronation is targeting organised extended criminality, drug trafficking and the financial returns achieved from this type of activity through money laundering. This operation is being co-ordinated by Limerick Gardaí to address the accumulation of wealth by those engaged in serious …

Good weather is perfect for opportunistic criminals, the IFA has warned in appealing to farmers and householders in general not to let their guard down. IFA Rural Crime Prevention Executive, Colin Connolly, said, “As we are enjoying the current good weather it is important to be extra vigilant about your home security. Don’t assume because you are at home, your property is safe. In many burglaries I attended as a garda, the homeowner was present, and perhaps in the rear of the house or garden, at the time of the crime. “We are all opening up our homes, sheds and garages to let in the sun after a long hard winter but it’s important to be mindful of criminals who will be canvassing the area for an opportunity to strike. Lock windows on the ground floor level. Ensure that, if you are opening windows on the first floor, they cannot be entered from a porch, drain pipe or a ladder …

CLARE gardaí, the Criminal Assets Bureau and Revenue are to be involved in a multi-agency response to deal with local families and individuals who have unaccountable wealth and are “obviously involved in criminality”. Chief Superintendent John Kerin, head of the Clare Garda Division, said a lack of garda investment over a five or six-year period during the recession prevented a long-term strategic approach to investigating these families and individuals. However, he is confident that the resources are now in place to carry out numerous investigations in the county and ascertain if the wealth and assets that some have acquired were legitimately obtained. “I had a meeting last week with my officers and I want to target a number of families and individuals myself in this county, who are obviously involved in criminality, whether it is drug-dealing, money-lending or whatever, but who are showing the signs of wealth and who don’t have a visible means of income,” he said. “I certainly …

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. …

RECENT garda operations in Kilrush have created a sense of “paranoia” among a criminal element in the town. Garda Superintendent Seamus Nolan outlined this view at Wednesday morning’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting in Kilrush, the day after 11 people were arrested in the town as part of an investigation into unlawful money lending. The investigation, which has been ongoing for several months, is focused on people suspected to be engaged in unlicensed money lending. The searches, which commenced at 7am on Tuesday morning, were carried out at a number of premises in Kilrush, including private and business premises and involved up to 100 gardaí, including the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), Regional Support Unit, special detective units from Galway, the National Criminal Intelligence Unit, as well as officials from Revenue, Social Welfare and Clare County Council. Five men, aged between 18 and 55 years and six females, aged between 20 and 49, were arrested and detained at various garda stations …