The April programme was aired on the 30th April 2018
Gardaí at Cabra Garda Station are investigating an aggravated burglary that occurred on Tuesday 21st November 2017 in an apartment along Royal Canal Avenue.
Two friends were catching up in one of the women’s apartments along the Royal Canal, at approximately 4.40pm, a blue BMW 5 Series car drove along the road parallel to the canal, they did a U-turn and parked outside an apartment complex. Three men got out of the car and made their way into the apartment.
A few moments later, there was a knock on the door of the apartment the women were in, one of the women looked through the peep hole and saw one man, she opened the door and three men burst in pushing the woman into the living area. The two women were assaulted by the three men, one of them was armed with a hammer. One of the men spoke and demanded money. One of the women gave him some money from her handbag before escaping to the window to scream for help.
The men fled from the apartment taking mobile phones and a laptop with them. They ran to the waiting BMW and drove off in the direction of Ashtown.
Appeal:
• Gardaí are appealing to anyone in the Ashtown & Royal Canal Avenue areas on this Tuesday afternoon and may have seen these men or their BMW car.
• The three suspects arrived in a BMW 5 series car and were captured on CCTV. Gardaí are appealing for people to consider the CCTV footage and along with the car may be in a position to identify these men.
• Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information in relation to this crime to come forward.
Gardaí at Cabra Garda Station are investigating tel: (01) 666 7400
Gardaí at Leixlip Garda Station are investigating a cash in transit robbery that occurred outside a bank on Main Street, Leixlip on Monday 5th February 2018.
On the date in question, a security van driver was making his rounds in the Kildare area in a blue cash in transit van. The van had parked in a cul de sac called Ralph Square, at the side of the bank.
At almost the same time a white VW Caddy, registration number 04MN6401, drove into the cul de sac, and waited while the van driver made deliveries to and from the bank.
At around 11.40am, the driver of the van made his first delivery to the bank. He then returned to the van and as he was about to return to the bank with another box, the white VW Caddy drove from the cul-de-sac and onto the Main St, blocking the road. A suspect emerged from the rear of the van and pointed a gun at the driver and ordered him to drop the box. The driver dropped the box, which the suspect picked up before jumping into the rear of the Caddy, which drove off in the Lucan direction, with its rear doors open.
The Caddy was next seen passing the Salmon Leap pub. It then turned right onto Cooldrinagh Lane, where it was set alight by the driver. Both suspects than headed over a footbridge which crosses the M4, and leads to the continuation of Cooldrinagh Lane, Lucan. At this point the suspects join a third man who is waiting in a silver Ford Focus hatchback van. The suspects then drive away together in the Ford Focus continuing along Cooldrinagh Lane in the direction of the entrance to Weston Aerodrome.
The VW Caddy was totally destroyed by fire and later recovered by Gardaí. The Silver Ford Focus and the cash box have not been recovered to date.
Description of Suspect 1
• Head covered with a scarf
• Dark top and trousers
• Acted nervously
• Spoke with an Irish accent
Description of Suspect 2
• Wore a navy jacket over a grey hoodie and grey tracksuit bottoms.
Appeal:
• Anyone in the vicinity of Main street Leixlip and who may have seen the suspects and the VW Caddy, (prior to or after the robbery).
• Anyone in the vicinity of Cooldrinagh Lane and who saw the suspects transfer from the VW Caddy to the Ford Focus van.
• Anyone with information in relation to either of the two vehicles involved, (where stored and who had/has possession).
• Gardaí are appealing to anyone who might have information on the whereabouts of the cash box to come forward.
Gardaí at Leixlip Garda Station are investigating tel: (01) 666 7800
Gardaí at Mayfield Garda Station are investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder of Cathal O’Brien & Kevin Ball who have not been seen since the 18th April 1994.
Cathal was living in a flat at Wellington Terrace, Mayfield in Cork City from September of that year, he befriended Kevin Ball shortly after. Kevin was a native of Surrey in the United Kingdom but had been living in the Mayfield area at the time of his disappearance.
Wellington Terrace is a three storey dwelling which was divided into six flats at the time of the men’s disappearance.
Gardaí have conducted an extensive investigation over the years with numerous searches carried out. Gardaí believe Cathal & Kevin were murdered sometime after the 18th April.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who knew Cathal & Kevin in 1994 and who may have information in relation to their disappearance to come forward now.
Cathal’s father Seamus will be in studio to appeal to the public for their assistance and help bring his Son’s body home.
Gardaí at Mayfield Garda Station are investigating tel: (021) 455 8510
The Gardaí at Swinford Garda Station are re-appealing for information in relation to the murder of Edward (Eddie) Fitzmaurice, Bellaghy, Charlestown, Co. Mayo.
At 6.45pm on the 5th May 1998 Eddie’s body was found in a bedroom of his home. It was established that sometime between 8.20pm on Friday, the 1st May 1998 and Saturday morning the 2nd May 1998 Eddie was assaulted in his home following a burglary. He was tied up, gagged and left to die over a period of five days.
The Garda investigation into the murder of Eddie Fitzmaurice has been coordinated from Charlestown and Swinford Garda Stations. Despite exhaustive efforts to identify the suspects, nobody has been arrested to date with this crime.
The murder investigation has remained ongoing for the past twenty years. During this period of time it has been reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Eddie Fitzmaurice was 83 years old and lived alone. He ran his own drapery shop for many years. Eddie was a popular member of the community, who went about his day to day business, in a quiet gentle manner.
Twenty years on, An Garda Síochána are continuing to appeal for the public’s help.
Appeal:
• Investigating Gardaí believe that with the passage of time and a change in circumstances people who have information may now be in a position to come forward now.
• Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information, however insignificant they feel it is to come forward and allow the investigation team to assess it.
• The family of Eddie Fitzmaurice are elderly, Gardaí would urge people with information to come forward and bring the Fitzmaurice family some closure.
• Crimestoppers have offered a reward for information leading to the identification and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Gardaí at Claremorris Garda Station are investigating tel: (094) 937 2080
Gardaí at Edenderry Garda Station are investigating the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of twenty-six-year-old Latvian national Edgars Leimanis who has not been seen since Saturday 31st March 2018.
Edgars was staying with friends in Newberry Close, Edenderry, Co. Offaly, on the morning of the 31st he told one of them he was going for a walk for half an hour, but he never returned.
Edgars is described as six foot two inches in height of slim build with short brown hair. When last seen he was wearing a dark coloured jacket buttoned up the front, dark coloured trousers and dark shoes.
Gardaí at Edenderry Garda Station are investigatine tel: (046) 973 1290
Gardaí at Carlow Garda Station are investigating the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of thirty-year-old Polish national, Rafal Filipowicz, who has not been seen since 16th March 2018.
Rafal attended Portlaoise General Hospital on the 15th March 2018 and left the hospital the following day.
Rafal is described as five foot eleven inches tall, of medium build with short brown hair. He had a beard at the time of his disappearance. When last seen he was wearing a red polo short with grey tracksuit bottoms.
Gardaí have carried out a number of searches for Rafal, but have not located him as yet. They are seriously concerned for his safety and well-being.
Gardaí at Carlow Garda Station are investigatine tel: (059) 913 6620
Gardaí at Swords Garda Station are investigating the hijacking of a taxi on Saturday 8th December 2017. The injured party collected a fare at Hanlons Corner on the North Circular Road, Dublin 7 at approximately 3am on the morning of the 8th. The men asked to be taken to Swords. One of the men was wearing a blue jumper with a hood and he sat in the rear passenger seat. The second man was dressed in dark clothing and sat behind the driver. When they got to Swords they directed the taxi man to continue out a country road. The man in the dark clothing put his hand around the injured party’s neck and the other man threatened him with what the injured party believed was a knife.
They told the taxi man to get out of the car and left him on the side of the road. He sought assistance from passing motorists and contacted the Gardaí. The car was recovered later that morning in Ashbourne, Co. Meath. It had been set alight.
An EVOFIT was compiled of the man who was wearing the blue jumper, he is described as six-foot-tall, well built (muscles). He had blonde medium length hair, small eyes and blonde eyelashes.
Gardaí at Swords Garda Station are investigating tel: (01) 666 4700
Gardaí at Ballymahon Garda Station are investigating an incident of exposure that occurred on Monday 17th July 2017 between 2pm & 3.30pm at a car park in Newcastlewood, Ballymahon, Co. Longford.
The man is described as being between fifty and sixty years old, five foot eight inches in height, with receding grey hair (tight haircut). He had a pale complexion with thin grey eyebrows. He was wearing a blue lose fitting t-shirt, black trousers, black sandals with no socks and a sleeveless high viz jacket.
Gardaí at Ballymahon Garda Station are investigating tel: (090) 643 2303
On this month’s Crime Prevention Segment, Sergeant Graham Kavanagh was in studio to offer advice in relation to motorcycle security and bogus callers.
Sergeant Kavanagh offered motorcycle security advice during a filmed feature to illustrate the many ways in which criminals will attempt to steal motorcycles.
At this time of year, Gardaí urge all residents to be vigilant in relation to bogus callers & distraction burglaries. Sergeant Kavanagh offered advice on how best to keep your home & property safe.
Crime prevention advice is available here
On this month’s traffic segment Garda Derek Cloughley was on patrol on a Garda Motorcycle with a view to offering motorcyclists advice in relation to their personal protective equipment, (PPE).
This advice was timely given that amount of motorcyclists using our roads at this time of the year is on the increase and is expected to increase throughout the summer months. Garda Cloughley was in studio covering such topics as visibility, the high risk period ahead and offering general advice to both motorcyclists and other road users.
Road safety advice available here.jpg "personal protective equipment (PPE)")