Gardai on high alert for retaliation attacks after man killed in hit-and-run
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Gardai are on high alert as there are fears of retaliation attacks following a hit-and-run which claimed the life of a man in his 30s.
Sources say the victim, named locally as Mircea Rostas was targeted in a feud-related incident among members of the Roma community in Balbriggan, north Co Dublin. On Monday night local people gathered around the man's body shortly after the horrific incident at around 9pm.
One distraught youth, who was with Mr Rostas, sobbed: 'He's not breathing,' and 'I had beef with them for ages,' in relation to the alleged suspects. Mr Rostas was mowed down by a vehicle on Railway Street in the town.
The vehicle failed to remain at the scene. Shortly afterwards, in a second incident involving three cars, a black BMW 3 series was rammed outside Balbriggan Garda station on Drogheda Street.
The Garda Public Order unit was deployed as tensions mounted in the seaside town shortly after both incidents. Two crime scenes were declared and remained sealed off in the town until yesterday afternoon.
A man was arrested last night as part of investigations into the horrific hit-and-run. A statement confirmed: 'Gardai in Balbriggan are continuing to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding a fatal road traffic incident that occurred on Railway Street, Balbriggan, shortly after 9pm on Monday. The incident resulted in the death of a male aged in his 30s.
'A postmortem examination was carried out by the Office of the State Pathologist at Dublin City Mortuary.
'A preliminary report has been furnished to the investigation team, specific details are not being released at this time for operational reasons.
'The scene has been fully examined by the Garda Technical Bureau and Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. The road has since reopened to traffic.
'As part of the ongoing investigation, a man in his 40s has been arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in North Dublin.
'An incident room has been established at Balbriggan Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed.
'A Garda Family Liaison Officer has been assigned and is providing support to the deceased's family.'
Investigating Gardai are appealing to the public for any witnesses to the
incident to come forward.
They are particularly interested in the movements of a black saloon car observed in the area at the time, which was later abandoned following a
collision on Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, with a second saloon car.
A spokesman added: 'Anyone with information is urged to contact Balbriggan Garda Station on 01 666 4500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
'An Garda Siochana is aware that images and video footage related to this incident are circulating on social media and messaging platforms. We are appealing to anyone who receives this content to refrain from sharing or reposting it further.'
A source told the Irish Mirror: 'Gardai are on high alert in the town now over fears of retaliation attacks.'
Local councillor Tony Murphy added: 'It's horrendous for the family [of the deceased man] to wake up to this news.
'It's absolutely devastating for Balbriggan.'
Locals gathered on Drogheda Street yesterday morning. 'It's absolutely shocking,' one told the Irish Mirror.
'I only heard about it all this morning when I saw news online. It's terrible.'
Another said: 'We heard all the sirens on Monday night but didn't know what was happening.'
'God love his poor family. He is someone's child,' a third person added.
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 .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dublin Live
5 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Gardai on high alert for retaliation attacks after man killed in hit-and-run
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Gardai are on high alert as there are fears of retaliation attacks following a hit-and-run which claimed the life of a man in his 30s. Sources say the victim, named locally as Mircea Rostas was targeted in a feud-related incident among members of the Roma community in Balbriggan, north Co Dublin. On Monday night local people gathered around the man's body shortly after the horrific incident at around 9pm. One distraught youth, who was with Mr Rostas, sobbed: 'He's not breathing,' and 'I had beef with them for ages,' in relation to the alleged suspects. Mr Rostas was mowed down by a vehicle on Railway Street in the town. The vehicle failed to remain at the scene. Shortly afterwards, in a second incident involving three cars, a black BMW 3 series was rammed outside Balbriggan Garda station on Drogheda Street. The Garda Public Order unit was deployed as tensions mounted in the seaside town shortly after both incidents. Two crime scenes were declared and remained sealed off in the town until yesterday afternoon. A man was arrested last night as part of investigations into the horrific hit-and-run. A statement confirmed: 'Gardai in Balbriggan are continuing to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding a fatal road traffic incident that occurred on Railway Street, Balbriggan, shortly after 9pm on Monday. The incident resulted in the death of a male aged in his 30s. 'A postmortem examination was carried out by the Office of the State Pathologist at Dublin City Mortuary. 'A preliminary report has been furnished to the investigation team, specific details are not being released at this time for operational reasons. 'The scene has been fully examined by the Garda Technical Bureau and Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. The road has since reopened to traffic. 'As part of the ongoing investigation, a man in his 40s has been arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in North Dublin. 'An incident room has been established at Balbriggan Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed. 'A Garda Family Liaison Officer has been assigned and is providing support to the deceased's family.' Investigating Gardai are appealing to the public for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. They are particularly interested in the movements of a black saloon car observed in the area at the time, which was later abandoned following a collision on Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, with a second saloon car. A spokesman added: 'Anyone with information is urged to contact Balbriggan Garda Station on 01 666 4500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. 'An Garda Siochana is aware that images and video footage related to this incident are circulating on social media and messaging platforms. We are appealing to anyone who receives this content to refrain from sharing or reposting it further.' A source told the Irish Mirror: 'Gardai are on high alert in the town now over fears of retaliation attacks.' Local councillor Tony Murphy added: 'It's horrendous for the family [of the deceased man] to wake up to this news. 'It's absolutely devastating for Balbriggan.' Locals gathered on Drogheda Street yesterday morning. 'It's absolutely shocking,' one told the Irish Mirror. 'I only heard about it all this morning when I saw news online. It's terrible.' Another said: 'We heard all the sirens on Monday night but didn't know what was happening.' 'God love his poor family. He is someone's child,' a third person added. 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 Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Garda-held decommissioned weapons used to catch people trying to import firearms
Gardaí have carried out at least two controlled deliveries of firearms since 2007, in which they used Garda-held decommissioned weapons to catch people trying to import firearms, Garda figures show. In response to queries from the Irish Examiner, Garda HQ detailed two court cases where gardaí substituted illegal firearms with Garda-held weapons that were made safe, in controlled deliveries to suspects who were subsequently convicted of buying weapons. Garda HQ also said the decision to prosecute Evan Fitzgerald with serious firearms offences after a controlled delivery was made following an 'independent evaluation' by the DPP of all the evidence. Labour Party TD Alan Kelly and Senator Michael McDowell, former justice minister and attorney general, have expressed grave concerns at the controlled delivery in the case of Mr Fitzgerald and two co-accused and questioned the arrest and prosecution of a "vulnerable" man. Labour Party TD Alan Kelly expressed grave concern at the controlled delivery in the case of Evan Fitzgerald and two co-accused. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins While on bail, the 22-year-old carried out a public suicide at a Carlow shopping centre on June 1 using a firearm he had stolen. He had caused panic among shoppers, including children, when he fired his shotgun into the air. Gardaí believe he had no intention to harm anyone, but said that firing a loaded gun in public, and having flammable liquid in a bottle which he was trying to light, posed inherent dangers to other people, even if inadvertent or accidental. Mr Kelly alleged that there was a 'domino impact' from the controlled delivery in Mr Fitzgerald taking his own life, while Mr McDowell claimed this outcome could have been avoided if 'diversion rather than entrapment and prosecution' was employed by gardaí against people he described as three 'naive young men'. One of the two other men has pleaded guilty to charges while the third person has yet to enter a plea. In its statement, Garda HQ detailed two firearms and three drug trafficking court cases where controlled deliveries were used by gardaí. Senator Michael McDowell claimed the outcome could have been avoided if 'diversion rather than entrapment and prosecution' was employed by gardaí against people he described as three 'naive young men'. Picture: Sam Boal It said gardaí were not making direct comparisons between the two firearms cases and Mr Fitzgerald and his co-accused. In the two previous cases, the suspects were involved in drug dealing or serious organised crime, whereas gardaí have told the court that Mr Fitzgerald and the co-accused were not involved in organised crime and that the guns were intended for target shooting in the woods. Gardaí told the courts that Mr Fitzgerald had a 'fascination' with firearms. The Garda statement said controlled deliveries are recognised as legitimate operational techniques by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and that Irish courts had accepted their use in at least two convictions. The two cases are: May 12, 2016 — undercover gardaí took the place of a firearms supplier after intelligence showed that Ahmad Ayadi, from Rathfarnham, Dublin, was trying to source firearms illegally. The officers obtained a firearm, that had been made safe, from Garda Ballistics, which Ayadi bought. He pleaded guilty on July 31, 2017; April 20, 2007 — two men were arrested in possession of firearms at the IBIS Hotel at Glanmire, Cork, after a controlled delivery of rocket launchers and weapons, supplied by Garda Ballistics after being made safe, by undercover officers. They pleaded guilty in 2008. The statement said it was up to a coroner to 'independently' determine the circumstances that led to Mr Fitzgerald's death and cited suicide guidelines from the Samaritans that speculation on causes can 'oversimply' an extremely complex issue. On Tuesday, Europol, the EU police agency, raised concerns at a growing trend of young men, including juveniles, who have 'personal struggles' or mental health issues and a 'fascination for weapons and explosives'. Read More The events leading to Evan Fitzgerald's death deserve proper scrutiny
Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Balbriggan hit and run victim allegedly run after by gang with hurley and knives
The young man ran over and killed in what is suspected to have been a 'targeted' fatal hit and run was allegedly run after by a gang with hurley and knives beforehand, we can reveal. Tragic Mircea Rostas, who was in his 30s, was run over twice by a BMW on Railway Street in Balbriggan just after 9pm on Monday night. Gardaí are set to consider a murder investigation as they continue to question a man known to Mr Rostas tonight, Wednesday, following a night of chaos in the town on Monday. It is now alleged several suspects 'arrived at Railway Street with a hurley and knives' and Mr Rostas ran from the scene 'because of an alleged incident over a female'. It's then alleged a person ran after Mr Rostas on foot before he was allegedly struck by a car which 'went into reverse and then drove back over him', sources say. 'It is believed at this stage it was targeted,' sources say. Sources also say there was a 'war of words' on social media over the past few weeks where a number of people 'started abusing each other; over an alleged assault of a female.' Following the incident a car fled the scene and was subsequently struck by another vehicle driven by associates of the victim. The shocking second collision occurred right outside Balbriggan Garda Station. A fight then broke out outside the station which had to be broken up. The suspect in the case was known to Mr Rostas and subsequently handed himself into Gardaí and was arrested on appointment. Tonight, Wednesday he remained in garda custody. Gardaí continue to appeal for witnesses. A garda spokesman said in a statement: 'Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the area at the time are asked to make it available to Gardaí. 'Anyone with information is asked to contact Balbriggan Garda Station on 01 666 4500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
