
Gardaí seize 41 vehicles, drugs worth 75k and arrest two men following search in Dublin
A total of 20 residential properties were searched under warrant in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West – Serious Crime South Functional Area (Clondalkin/Ballyfermot/Rathcoole/Ronanstown/Lucan).
A total of 41 vehicles were seized.
A man was arrested and subsequently charged in relation to a burglary in which two e-scooters were stolen.
Another premises searched led to the recovery of a caravan stolen last year.
In total, more than €75,000 worth of controlled drugs were seized, including cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, heroin and alprazolam tablets (subject to analysis). Approximately €6,500 in cash was also seized.
Following the searches, a number of patrols and checkpoints were conducted which led to the arrest of a man engaged in dangerous driving of a scrambler along the footpaths.
Assistance for the Day of Action was provided by Community Engagement members and the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit, along with the Garda Air Support Unit.
Chief Superintendent Michael McNulty of the DMR West Division said: "This was a multi-faceted operation, which focused on both road traffic enforcement and the detection of serious crime.
"The success of the operation is a testament to the continued efforts of gardaí to counteract the use of e-scooters and e-bikes for criminal purposes, whilst prioritising the safety of the local community.'
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Irish Times
29-05-2025
- Irish Times
The contrast between Kneecap charges and flag-festooned Northern Ireland is absurd
Under the UK 's main counter-terrorism legislation, the Terrorism Act 2000, it is an offence to arrange, assist or attend a meeting with knowledge that it will be addressed by a member of a proscribed organisation. This is a serious offence, punishable by up to 14 years in jail. The maximum sentence was raised from 10 years in 2021, so it is supposedly becoming more serious. Yet scarcely a week goes by in Northern Ireland when this law is not apparently broken by civic leaders, public officials, elected representatives and police officers as they pursue what is delicately termed 'community engagement' or 'paramilitary transition'. While some of these meetings are furtive, others will be reported as routine news. Some meetings will be condemned but others will be praised as courageous, or at worst as a regrettable necessity. 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The specific offence under the Terrorism Act is displaying an item that arouses reasonable suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation. The contrast with flag-festooned Northern Ireland is absurd. The PSNI has made just 13 arrests for the same offence in the past 24 years, despite the charge also covering paramilitary-linked clothing and publication of images. Many people have immediately asked why this law is applied differently on either side of the Irish Sea. A question so naive is rarely sincere. The PSNI cannot play flag whack-a-mole around thousands of lamp-posts, putting its officers in danger to little or no end. [ Kneecap review: Mo Chara tells 20,000-strong crowd 'you have no idea how close we were to being pulled off this gig' Opens in new window ] A strong case can be made for taking a stand against egregious breaches of the law, such as flying paramilitary flags beside mixed housing, but using a catch-all terrorism offence may not be the best approach. 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Sunday World
14-05-2025
- Sunday World
Twelve men and three women charged over retail theft in Dublin 7
They are scheduled to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at approximately 10.30am A total of 15 people, including 12 men and three women, are due in court later morning following a Garda operation targeting retail theft in the Dublin 7 area. Gardaí arrested and charged the 15, aged from their 20s to their 40s, ahead of an Operation Táirge Day of Action, which takes place today. They are scheduled to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at approximately 10.30am. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - May 14th Gardai said the ongoing investigations relate to thefts from multi-national retailers, local chain stores as well as local independent retailers 'within the Dublin 7 community'. 'As part of the Day of Action, gardaí from the Bridewell Community Engagement Area have engaged with over 60 retail outlets, to raise awareness around crime prevention,' a Garda spokesperson said. 'A total of 26 charges are being brought against those arrested in this phase of the investigation.' Three people have already been brought before the courts on foot of bench warrants. Operation Táirge is part of An Garda Síochána's Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy supporting operational activity aimed at detecting and preventing Organised Retail Crime (ORC). According to a statement issued by the Garda Press Office, organised retail crime refers to situations where a number of persons are acting together, targeting retailer outlets to steal significant quantities of goods to resell back into the retail supply chain through the black market. It can also involve refund fraud with the purpose of making a financial or material benefit. ORC is usually co-ordinated and well-organised by people who recruit others to commit theft from retailers. Operation Táirge is led by the Organised Retail Crime Tasking and Co-ordination Group within An Garda Síochána and supports each Garda region to monitor and respond to emerging trends in their area.


Sunday World
25-04-2025
- Sunday World
Gardaí seize 41 vehicles, drugs worth 75k and arrest two men following Dublin operation
"This was a multi-faceted operation, which focused on both road traffic enforcement and the detection of serious crime' Gardaí today seized 41 vehicles as part of an ongoing operation to target the unlawful use of e-bikes, scramblers and e-scooters. A total of 20 residential properties were searched under warrant in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West – Serious Crime South Functional Area (Clondalkin/Ballyfermot/Rathcoole/Ronanstown/Lucan). A total of 41 vehicles were seized. Part of the seizure A man was arrested and subsequently charged in relation to a burglary in which two e-scooters were stolen. Another premises searched led to the recovery of a caravan stolen last year. In total, more than €75,000 worth of controlled drugs were seized, including cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, heroin and alprazolam tablets (subject to analysis). Approximately €6,500 in cash was also seized. Following the searches, a number of patrols and checkpoints were conducted which led to the arrest of a man engaged in dangerous driving of a scrambler along the footpaths. Part of the drug seizure Assistance for the Day of Action was provided by Community Engagement members and the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit, along with the Garda Air Support Unit. Chief Superintendent Michael McNulty of the DMR West Division said: "This was a multi-faceted operation, which focused on both road traffic enforcement and the detection of serious crime. "The success of the operation is a testament to the continued efforts of gardaí to counteract the use of e-scooters and e-bikes for criminal purposes, whilst prioritising the safety of the local community.'