
Galway appeal launched as male caught on CCTV stealing black Volkswagen Golf
A black Volkswagen Golf with cream leather interior was stolen from a driveway at a residence in Oranmore on Friday night, May 23 at around 3.15am.
In an appeal shared across social media, further details were given including the car registration number, 201 D 9063. A photo of the vehicle was also shared.
CCTV captured a male wearing dark clothing with a red vertical stripe on front of jacket, white trainers, dark gloves and a baseball cap.
The appeal read: 'Gardai have been alerted. Any info would be very much appreciated.'
This week new data from An Garda Siochana revealed that there had been a marked decrease in car theft in 2025.
Theft from vehicles down 32pc, according to the figures compared to the same period in 2024.
Other notable decreases include:
Robbery from the person down 27pc;
Criminal damage incidents down 16pc;
Affray and violent disorder down an incredible 41pc;
Demonstrations and public protests also fell by 32pc.
There was also a 38pc drop in cases of interfering with a vehicle, a 30pc drop in cases of theft from a person, a 29pc drop in aggravated burglary, and a 25pc drop in robbery from an establishment.
Residential burglaries in the first quarter this year represent an average of 15 burglaries per day across the 26 counties.
An Garda Siochana has said that in the 10 years since the introduction of Operation Thor, recorded residential burglaries during the winter phase of October to March have dropped by 75 pc.
Operation Thor actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends.

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Dublin Live
2 days ago
- Dublin Live
Flight deporting 35 people from Ireland makes unscheduled stop due to medical incident
A flight carrying 35 people, including five children, who were being deported from Ireland was forced to make an unscheduled stop over a medical incident on board. The 21 men, nine woman and five children left on a chartered flight which departed Dublin Airport on Wednesday night for Nigeria. It was required to make the unscheduled stop, but Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said he was "happy to say" that the flight was able to resume its journey with "all 35 returnees arriving safely" in Lagos on Thursday morning. The people deported were Nigerian nationals. Mr O'Callaghan confirmed the "completion of a successful deportation operation" in a statement on Thursday morning. He said that the deported children were part of a family unit. It is the third operation carried out since the recommencement of charter flights for deportations in February of this year." Access to these services has significantly increased the capacity of An Garda Siochana to enforce deportation orders and is a measure Mr O'Callaghan is deploying to step up immigration enforcement," the justice department said. "Further charter operations will be conducted as the year progresses." Mr O'Callaghan said that people coming to Ireland must follow the "appropriate pathways" for legal migration. "Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced," he added. "The return of people whose applications have been refused and deportation orders have issued is the foundation of any modern rules-based immigration process. "People coming to Ireland must follow the appropriate pathways for legal migration and these pathways must be adhered to and protected for our immigration system to work fairly and effectively. "If a person's application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State they must do so. This is the third charter operation this year. Removal operations of this nature send a clear message that there are consequences for people who remain in our country without permission and underscores this Government's intention to protect the integrity of our immigration system. "The flight was required to make an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident on board, but I am happy to say that the flight was able to resume its journey with all 35 returnees arriving safely in Nigeria this morning. I want to thank the members of An Garda Siochana and my officials for their work in conducting this successful operation." The charter flights are used in addition to commercial flights. These operations are conducted under a contract signed by the State in November 2024 for the provision of charter aircraft. Mr O'Callaghan added: "Enforced removals are conducted as a measure of last resort when the person concerned has not removed themselves from the State or availed of assisted voluntary return measures. Before a deportation order is made, the person is offered assistance to return home voluntarily which is the preferred option. There has been a significant increase in the number of people leaving voluntarily and I continue to appeal to those who are given this opportunity to avail of it where appropriate." Two charter flights already conducted this year have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders. This operation brings the number of people removed by charter flight to 106. Additionally, 54 deportation orders have been enforced on commercial flights and 23 people subject to deportation orders are confirmed to have left Ireland unescorted so far in 2025. Minister for Migration Colm Brophy said: "Having a modern immigration system where its laws are effective and enforced is a key priority for this Government. The removal of people who have no legal right to be in the State, and the enforcement aspect of our immigration laws, are essential for the system to work effectively. "Today's flight, the third charter flight this year, underpins the Government's commitment in this area. I would like to thank members of An Garda Siochana for their ongoing hard work and commitment to ensuring that our returns system is effective and efficient. "This Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. This is the preferred option, and I would encourage those who are provided the opportunity to return voluntarily to avail of it. So far this year, 694 people have availed of the voluntary return programme." In a statement, a spokesman for the gardai said that the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carried out the operation. An Garda Siochana said it continues to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.


Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Flight deporting 35 Nigerians from Ireland forced to make unscheduled stop
A flight carrying 35 people, including five children, who were being deported from Ireland was forced to make an unscheduled stop over a medical incident on board. The 21 men, nine woman and five children left on a chartered flight which departed Dublin Airport on Wednesday night for was required to make the unscheduled stop, but Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said he was "happy to say" that the flight was able to resume its journey with "all 35 returnees arriving safely" in Lagos on Thursday morning. The people deported were Nigerian nationals. Mr O'Callaghan confirmed the "completion of a successful deportation operation" in a statement on Thursday morning. He said that the deported children were part of a family unit. It is the third operation carried out since the recommencement of charter flights for deportations in February of this year."Access to these services has significantly increased the capacity of An Garda Siochana to enforce deportation orders and is a measure Mr O'Callaghan is deploying to step up immigration enforcement," the justice department said. "Further charter operations will be conducted as the year progresses." Mr O'Callaghan said that people coming to Ireland must follow the "appropriate pathways" for legal migration. "Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced," he added."The return of people whose applications have been refused and deportation orders have issued is the foundation of any modern rules-based immigration process. "People coming to Ireland must follow the appropriate pathways for legal migration and these pathways must be adhered to and protected for our immigration system to work fairly and effectively. "If a person's application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State they must do so."This is the third charter operation this year. Removal operations of this nature send a clear message that there are consequences for people who remain in our country without permission and underscores this Government's intention to protect the integrity of our immigration system. "The flight was required to make an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident on board, but I am happy to say that the flight was able to resume its journey with all 35 returnees arriving safely in Nigeria this morning. "I want to thank the members of An Garda Siochana and my officials for their work in conducting this successful operation."The charter flights are used in addition to commercial flights. These operations are conducted under a contract signed by the State in November 2024 for the provision of charter O'Callaghan added: "Enforced removals are conducted as a measure of last resort when the person concerned has not removed themselves from the State or availed of assisted voluntary return measures. "Before a deportation order is made, the person is offered assistance to return home voluntarily which is the preferred option."There has been a significant increase in the number of people leaving voluntarily and I continue to appeal to those who are given this opportunity to avail of it where appropriate." Two charter flights already conducted this year have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation operation brings the number of people removed by charter flight to 106. Additionally, 54 deportation orders have been enforced on commercial flights and 23 people subject to deportation orders are confirmed to have left Ireland unescorted so far in 2025. Minister for Migration Colm Brophy said: "Having a modern immigration system where its laws are effective and enforced is a key priority for this Government. "The removal of people who have no legal right to be in the State, and the enforcement aspect of our immigration laws, are essential for the system to work effectively. "Today's flight, the third charter flight this year, underpins the Government's commitment in this area. I would like to thank members of An Garda Siochana for their ongoing hard work and commitment to ensuring that our returns system is effective and efficient."This Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. "This is the preferred option, and I would encourage those who are provided the opportunity to return voluntarily to avail of it. So far this year, 694 people have availed of the voluntary return programme." In a statement, a spokesman for the gardai said that the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carried out the Garda Siochana said it continues to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy.


Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Gangland criminal had cocaine in system at time of fatal motorcycle crash
The 38-year-old died in a crash on the main Sligo to Manorhamilton Road on June 29th 2023. An inquest into the death of CAB target Ian McMorrow has heard that he had cocaine in system at the time of his death. The 38-year-old died in a crash on the main Sligo to Manorhamilton Road on June 29th 2023. He was travelling towards Sligo at the time with a friend, Darren Sommers who was on another motorbike. The father of three was driving a Suzuki Motorcycle, which collided with a blue Ford Focus car travelling in the opposite direction at around 8.30pm. A toxicology report found Mr McMorrow had cocaine in his system at a level of 0.084. It was determined that the presence of the drug may have been a contributing factor in the crash. Speed was also identified as an underlying cause of the collision. Ian McMorrow News in 90 June 4th An inquest into his death was held by Coroner Fergal Kelly at Carrick on Shannon Courthouse last week. The coroner returned a verdict that the cause of death was blunt force trauma following a road traffic accident. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.48pm. A deposition from the driver of the Ford Focus, Tara McGloin was read to the inquest. In it, she said she was driving home after dropping her father and younger sister to collect a car from a mechanic. She said she was pulling out onto the N16 and she looked left and right, and left and right again before she pulled out on to the main road. She said she was certain nothing was coming and pulled out, heading towards Manorhamilton. The woman said she then saw a flash and felt a bang. A breathalyser test was conducted at the scene, which she passed. A few months before his death, McMorrow was described by the High Court as being 'actively involved the sale and supply of drugs'. He was closely connected to local mob boss Patrick Irwin. In May 2023, High Court judge Mr Justice Alex Owens ruled that it was reasonable to believe that a Volkswagen Golf, two diamond rings and €5,000 in cash belonging to him were funded by the drugs trade. The items, including the cash that was found hidden in his girlfriend's underwear that were seized by CAB, were declared proceeds of crime and confiscated from McMorrow, who had more than 50 criminal convictions. McMorrow didn't challenge a CAB bid to have his car and cash declared the proceeds of crime. His girlfriend Claudia Gethins claimed the rings were an inheritance. The car and property were seized in garda raids in July 2021 targeting the gang in which McMorrow acted right-hand man to leader Patrick Irwin, who himself has previously been stripped of assets by CAB. McMorrow's criminal career and connections with other drug dealers were detailed in affidavits submitted to the court as part of the CAB case. Garda believe that while Irwin was in prison 2018, Ian McMorrow built up his own gang thanks to his brother Kenneth's connections with Dublin criminals, according to garda evidence detailed in court. His brother Kenneth is married to a sister of Patrick Irwin, Catherine, a former soldier who was kicked out of the Army after obstructing garda trying search Kenneth. The Irwin gang and the one previously controlled by Young have connections that stretch all along the west of Ireland, Northern Ireland and are linked to Dublin-based drug dealers with international connections. Details of the CAB investigation into McMorrow later emerged, including how he paid for his 172-reg VW Golf for cash in Northern Ireland. An Audi he traded in for the Golf had previously been bought for more than €10,000 in Co Meath when he had no legitimate means to acquire that amount of cash. While two lodgements of €10,000 and €12,000 had been made to his bank account from compensation claims, later transactions didn't correspond with the purchase of the Golf. A 'substantial amount' of duty, almost €8,000, was paid on the car by McMorrow's grandmother who the judge said had no interest in the car. Judge Owens said McMorrow and Gethins are people of 'no means' who live in a house they don't own and don't have the resources to account for the car, jewellery or cash. He said the explanation is in the affidavits that McMorrow is a drug-dealer 'working with other shady characters' The judge appointed a receiver with the power to sell off the car and jewellery and ordered the proceeds from the sales to be lodged in an account until they are forfeited to the State. McMorrow, who has more than 50 previous convictions, was a violent drug dealer selling cocaine and cannabis, who has received lengthy prison sentences. While still in his 20s he was jailed for making threats to shoot someone during a drunken melee for which he served a prison sentence. In 2022 he got a three-month suspended sentence for obstructing gardai when he was seen throwing away a plastic bag and a mobile phone as he was being chased by gardai near his home. In 2019 he was prosecuted for dangerous driving after members of the Divisional Drugs Unit attempted to stop him getting away from them. The car was driven at high-speed on the wrong side of the road, mounted footpaths and only came to an end when a tyre blew out.