Tag Archives: theft

THE Parish Priest of Tulla has made an appeal to people to be vigilant, after what he described as “heartless” thefts from a number of graves in the town. The incidents were reported to Gardaí last Friday after a visitor to the graveyard, which is on the Hill of Tulla, discovered that freshly-bought plants had been stolen from a grave. It is understood that a number of other graves were tampered with and that rose bushes were among the items stolen from two of them. The incidents have caused considerable distress locally and Gardaí are appealing for information. “People are so upset,” said Fr Brendan Quinlivan. “First and foremost, it’s very distressing that this should have happened in a place that is so scared to so many people. Something like this has a profound effect on everyone, but particularly on those who are grieving the loss of a loved one and are already carrying that very heavy burden. To do …

A Cratloe-based executive who was jailed for three years for stealing some €260,000 from the solicitor’s firm he previously worked for has agreed to have a receiver appointed over his pension fund. Monies in the fund, estimated to be approximately €170,000, will go towards repaying those who suffered loss by the fraudulent conduct of Garry Carroll. In 2012, Carroll admitted to multiple charges of theft, larceny and embezzlement before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court of from his employers Connolly Sellors, Geraghty Solicitors- now known as Keating Connolly Sellors. Carroll, who worked as a legal executive with the firm from 1978 to 2009, was sentenced to three years in prison. The court heard that the offences were committed over a 10-year period. Fifty-eight-year-old old Carroll, who lived in Limerick for many years but is now residing in Cratloe,said that his actions were due to a gambling problem. The firm brought civil proceedings against Carroll and obtained a judgement against him in 2014 …

THE theft of netting from an Ennis sporting club’s grounds has been labelled as “bizarre” by the club’s president. A total of 120m² of catch netting, which was only installed at Ennis Rugby Club in January at a cost of €11,000, was stolen overnight last Wednesday. It is believed that the culprits used a ladder to gain entry to the Showgrounds Road-based grounds. While it is not known how much it will cost to replace the netting, club president Richard Murphy said that he expects it will be “close to four figures”. Speaking to The Clare Champion after the theft, Mr Murphy confirmed that gardaí are investigating the incident. He said the club can’t understand why someone would take the netting. “It’s hard to fathom; somebody obviously had some use for it. To take 120m², that obviously took some effort and time. They would have needed to bring a ladder.” He described the theft as “a shame”, saying the money …

A Mountshannon farmer has received a suspended three year jail term and ordered to pay a €3,000 fine after it was uncovered using DNA tracing that he was responsible for three separate thefts of a total of 15 cattle from his neighbour. Ahead of delivering his sentence at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Gerald Keys told Padraig O’Brien, (42), of Magherigh “what you have done to your neighbour is unforgivable”. O’Brien had pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft of the cattle worth €17,000. The offences involved the theft of five in-calf heifers from Bohatch, Mountshannon between January 17 and 18, 2015; the theft of six heifers from Kilrateera, Mountshannon between May 23 and 24, 2013, and the theft of four cows from Bohatch between December 8 and 9, 2013, a total of 15 charges. The court heard that gardaí were led to O’Brien after they found “sporadic hoof marks on the ditches” in frost, leading to his farmyard in …

At a time when crime in rural areas in Clare has become an all to frequent occurrence, it has emerged calls regarding burglary and theft made up almost one-third of contacts with the National Crime Victims Helpline last year. With 29% of calls dealing with burglary and theft, this was followed closely by assault (25%) and harassment (20%), according to the organisation’s annual report. Michele Puckhaber, Helpline coordinator, said, “Many people understand how an assault can be traumatising to a victim but may discount the serious impact of crimes such as burglary and theft. When your home is burgled or there has been an attempt to break in, people can experience strong emotional reactions, or feel a loss of control. Your home is the place where you expect to feel safe. A burglary can take away from feelings of safety and control.” Burglary can be particularly devastating to families with children. Many people who ring into the Helpline are looking …

GARDAÍ are appealing for information in relation to a number of crimes which have taken place in the county in the past number of weeks. In Kilmaley witnesses are being sought after the Kilmaley Inagh Water Treatment Plant was broken into between 6pm on Sunday, August 31 and 8.30am on Monday, September 1 last. The water treatment plant is located at Lisroe and entry was gained by forcing in the front door. Thieves made off with a Grey Pedrello water pump, two yellow 20 foot Toby hoses, a shovel, and a red M6 power washer model Max 11 litres. Also in Kilmaley, gardaí are investigating after a number of items of property were stolen from a shed at Knaockadangan. This incident occurred between 9.30am and 11am on Monday, September 1. A rubber material bridle, pinchers, and a black saddle with brown girth and stirrups were stolen. Meanwhile, in Sixmilebridge a house in the Cluain Droichead estate was burgled between 1.30am …

GARDAí at Ennis, are quite literally looking into  matters following an unusual find. They  are investigating the theft of manhole covers in the locality and have  arrested two young men, 17 and 19 years, this Wednesday afternoon. They are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Ennis Garda Station. In total 15 manhole covers were recovered following the search of a vehicle at Monreagh, Tubber. The theft/removal of manhole covers is potentially lethal to road users and has been highlighted by An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority.

THE issuing of adult cautions is becoming more prevalent in recent times, something gardaí have attributed to the current economic climate. At a meeting of the county’s Joint Policing Committee Superintendent Derek Smart, of Ennis Garda District, outlined to the committee that the number of theft and theft-related offences had increased by three instances, bringing the total to 858. Noting in the breakdown of these figures that thefts from shops accounted for 230 of these crimes, Councillor John Crowe asked the Superintendent to clarify if these would have resulted in successful prosecutions. Superintendent Smart said, “The vast majority of them would end up in convictions. Most shops have good CCTVs, and we would also make use of the adult caution in the case of a first time offence, which keeps the matter out of the courts. We are seeing this being used a lot more in the current economic times”. After the meeting, Superintendent Smart told The Clare Champion, “It …