Tag Archives: theft

GARDAÍ are driving home a message to car owners urging greater vigilance when it comes to securing their vehicles. This follows a recent spate of thefts from vehicles across the county. Cars have been targeted by thieves in various locations including Ennis, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Ennistymon. According to Clare’s Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks, “A number of cars have been broken into over the past week and all the cars were unlocked.” Between 10pm last Monday night week and 10am on Tuesday morning loose change was taken from a car parked on Shanaway Road, Ennis. In a separate incident, between 3am and 4.20am last Wednesday there was a report of a male interfering with cars on Carmody Street. Face masks were stolen from one unlocked car. A male was apprehended, arrested and charged and brought before Ennis District Court on Wednesday morning. In the Moyard Estate, Ennis on the night of October 22 a sum of money was stolen …

HUGE hurt is being caused to families in Tulla because of an ongoing spate of thefts from the graves of their loved ones, according to Councillor Pat Hayes. Seven incidents have been reported to Gardaí in recent months, with the latest taking place between 10am on Thursday, September 16 and 5pm last Friday, September 18. It is understood, locally, that up to 20 thefts or disturbances may have taken place, many of which people have considered to minor to report. “This is a disturbing and sensitive issue,” said Councillor Hayes. “In some cases, the families affected have suffered very sad losses and the last thing you would want is for the graves of their loved ones to be disturbed.” The Fianna Fáil member, who is chairperson of the county council’s Rural Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) which has responsibility for burial grounds, said every possible means of preventing a reoccurrence was being examined. “Burial grounds should be kept safe and …

A SPATE of thefts from graves in Tulla has sparked outrage in the local community, and an appeal for vigilance from the authorities. Six incidents have been reported to Gardaí in recent months, with the latest taking place between 9pm last Thursday (September 3) and 1pm on Friday. A number of grave ornaments, including lanterns, were removed from graves, in a theft which has been condemned by Gardaí. “These items have relatively small monetary value, but have a huge sentimental value to the families involved,” said Inspector Adrian Queeney of Killaloe Station. “These thefts cause huge distress and I would appeal to anyone with information to come forward.” Inspector Queeney said that there is no suggestion, at this point, that any particular family or individual is being targetted. “The thefts seem to be random. We don’t suspect that there’s any issue of targetting, but these thefts are now something that seems to be ongoing and we would appeal for anyone …

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 …