Tag Archives: garda

AN elderly person in Shannon was tricked into parting with €3,000 to solve a non-existent problem on their computer. On Tuesday, April 10, the individual, in their late 70s, received a phone call from an unknown person, who told them that their computer had been hacked and corrupted. The caller then told them the situation could be rectified, if they provided iTunes vouchers to the value of €3,000. At this stage, the caller went and purchased six iTunes vouchers to the value of €500 each and passed on the codes to the caller. Also, on April 7 in the Sixmilebridge area, an elderly person was using a computer in their home when it crashed. A message appeared on the screen, asking them to call a number in the USA. When they did so, they were told that the problem could be fixed if credit card details were provided. These details were then provided and they were subsequently used fraudulently. Thankfully, …

A Garda surveillance on a telephone pole paid off, when a 43-year-old drug dealer was spotted leaving two plastic lunch boxes, containing 12 bags of cocaine, at the pole. At Ennis District Court this week, Simon McDonagh of Aonach An Chláir, Clarecastle, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supplying cocaine, contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act on March 14, 2017. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Judge Patrick Durcan described the circumstances of the find as “fascinating” and said that he regarded the offence as very much at the upper end of Section 15 offences. Giving an outline of the facts in the case, Inspector Tom Kennedy said that Detective Garda Gary Stack was conducting a surveillance operation in a rural area at Lissane West, outside Clarecastle. He saw Simon McDonagh arrive and stoop down beside the telephone pole and place the two …

THE parents of a newborn baby who received emergency intervention at Ennis Garda Station last week have told The Clare Champion that they want the gardaí to know how “eternally grateful” they are. As Amanda Carmody and Michael Coughlin sit comfortably in their living room, watching their 17-day-old baby Holly sleep soundly in their arms, they say Garda Ken Butler and Garda Patrick McCormack “were absolutely incredible”, when they arrived into the station on Wednesday evening last. “Everyone was fantastic. We want the gardaí to know how eternally grateful we are. They were absolutely incredible and we want to let people know that they are there to help, and they were absolutely fantastic,” Amanda said. She explained that the couple had been in town with Holly on Wednesday last and were walking out Newbridge Road in Lifford, having come over the Club Bridge from town, when they noticed something wasn’t right. “We were just down by where MT Pockets used …

Gardaí investigating a single car crash which occurred in Ennis on Easter Sunday have confirmed that there has been a second fatality. Teenager Oisín Cahill was pronounced dead at approximately 4.20am when the car he was travelling in struck the wall of the Woodstock View housing estate on the outskirts of Ennis. Gardaí have confirmed today [Tuesday] that his cousin, Darragh Killeen lost his fight for life at University Hospital Limerick at approximately 3pm. Their friend Enda Hickey remains in hospital in critical condition. All three were from the Clonfeigh area in Inch. The parish of Kilmaley was left trying to come to terms with the tragic accident. On Tuesday morning a special mass was offered in a packed Connolly Church for Oisín. Fr Pat Larkin PP asked all present to support and pray for all the families involved. “I’m asking all in the parish and beyond to stand shoulder to shoulder over the coming days and weeks,” he said. …

Gardaí in Ennis are investigating a single vehicle fatal road traffic collision that occurred at Woodstock, Shanaway Road, Ennis, in the early hours of this morning, Easter Sunday. At approximately 4.20am  a male passenger (18 years) was fatally injured when the car he was in, hit a wall directly oppposite Woodstock Hotel. The other occupants, the driver and passenger (both young men, 19 and 21 years) were seriously injured and were removed to University Hospital Limerick. None of the three young men has been named. Garda forensic collision investigators are on the since, where the vehicle is screened off, and there are some diversions. Gardaí are appealing to any persons or motorists who may have witnessed the collision to contact them at Ennis Garda Station on 065 – 6848100, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Traffic is slow on the Ennis to Limerick motorway near Newmarket-on-Fergus, following a single vehicle accident earlier this morning.  Nobody was injured in the accident, which was attended by units of the the emergencies and the gardaí from Shannon. Motorists are being urged to be patient as traffic is expected to be slow in the area for the next half hour as the vehicle is being removed.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau is reminding the public about the dangers of providing personal and financial details to third parties, following a number of recently reported scams. The first relates to a Bank Compromise Fraud (Vishing). The victim was contacted by an individual purporting to be from their bank stating their account had some suspicious transactions. In order to provide a refund, the victim was instructed to send funds via financial money transfer to locations including Nepal, Kenya and Cambodia. The second relates to a fraud targeting Indian and other nationalities after recently travelling to Ireland, who were contacted by phone and told they had incorrectly filled in a form at the airport in their country of origin. They were told their Visa would be invalid and they would be deported unless they sent funds via financial money transfer to India to rectify the issue. Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Lordan, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, said, “I want …

GARDAÍ have carried out a major swoop on people suspected of being involved in many aspects of child pornography. Operation Ketch is an operation targeting those in possession and involved in the distribution of child pornography either through social network sites or via file sharing networks. The operation took place from February 2 to 52018 and was led by the Online Child Exploitation Unit (ONCE) at the Garda National Protection Services Bureau. During this phase of the investigation, searches were carried out under warrant pursuant to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998 across a number of Garda divisions. The searches were carried out by newly established Divisional Protection Service Units and local detective Units. A total of 31 locations were searched and digital material which included thousands of images were seized for forensic examination. Child protection concerns at all the locations searched have been addressed. Assistance was received by the Online Child Exploitation Unit from the Federal Bureau of …