PSNI arrest three men in Northern Ireland following daring house raids in Cavan and Monaghan
The three suspects, two of whom are aged in their mid to late 30s were arrested with a third man in his mid 40s after detectives swooped on a house in the Loughgall area of Armagh last night.
They were initially detained in the wake of a break-in the Madden Row area of Keady. However, the Irish Independent understands that during that operation, a cache of suspected stolen goods were recovered which senior investigators on both sides of the border believe may be linked to four raids on houses in Cavan and Monaghan yesterday morning.
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Gardaí had been searching for a silver Mercedes which they understand may have been used by the gang in making their getaway from burglaries which took place in Clontibret and nearby Castleshane.
The car, which had carried a Northern Ireland registration plate, is understood to have been spotted in Monaghan soon afterwards, but escaped across the border before gardaí could stop both it and its occupants.
A garda spokesperson confirmed to the Irish Independent earlier today of an ongoing investigation that was now in train in connection with Monaghan break-ins that took place between 7:40am and 12:30pm yesterday.
The first of those resulted in a smart watch and jewellery being taken with an undisclosed sum of cash having been reported stolen in the Castleshane raid.
"Police have arrested three men following burglaries in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday 30 April,' said a PSNI spokesperson.
'The suspects, aged 46, 38 and 35, were detained at an address in Loughgall last night and are being questioned by detectives in connection with a burglary at a house on Madden Row in Keady, as well as on suspicion of possession of stolen goods believed to have been taken during burglaries in County Monaghan.
'A silver Mercedes, believed to have been used in the burglaries, has also been seized for examination.'
As those investigations continue, the Irish Independent also understand that gardaí are liaising with their PSNI counterparts over the trio's suspected involvement in two further burglaries that took place in county Cavan yesterday morning.
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Given the close proximity and timeframe of the Cavan break-ins which lie just 10km apart, gardaí had been working on establishing a possible link between both.
During the first incident in the Mullagh area, a quantity of jewellery and home ornaments were taken from a private residence with a sum of cash having been stolen in the Virginia incident.
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'Gardaí in Co Cavan are investigating a burglary at a residential property in Mullagh, which occurred sometime between 11:30am and 2:00pm on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025. Some jewellery and ornaments were taken (and) investigations (are) ongoing,' said a garda spokesperson.
'Gardaí (also) received a report of a burglary at house in Virginia, Co. Cavan, which occurred sometime before 12:40pm on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025. A sum of cash was taken (and an) investigation (is) ongoing.'
A garda spokesperson has since confirmed detectives are now in talks with senior PSNI investigators about the gang's suspected involvement in the Cavan burglaries also.
'Gardaí are liaising with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to a number of recent burglaries which took place in Co Monaghan and Co Cavan,' said a spokesperson.
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