27 February 2023

The Gardaí in Portlaoise station are investigating a burglary and unauthorised taking of a vehicle, which occurred on 9th January 2023 at 6:30pm and 8:30am on 10th January 2023.  During the course of the burglary, at a property in Straboe, Co. Laois, keys to vehicle a Toyota Land Cruiser, registration 05-KE-239, metallic blue, long wheel base, were obtained and the vehicle driven away.  A number of power tools were also taken from the injured party’s workshop.

Gardaí in Tullamore responding to another incident on 13th January 2023 shortly after 00:25, subsequently discovered the Toyota Land Cruiser 05-KE-239.  It had been badly damaged.  Two men were seen running away from the vehicle in the direction of the Srah Road.   

Items taken

• Evolution magnetic drill for drilling steal worth €450
• A four piece BOSCH battery tool set in a BOSCH canvas bag worth €1400
• A Yarmar diesel power washer. It had a hose reel and an electric push button to start valued at €4000
• There were also spanners, hammers and drill bits taken 

Appeal

• Were you in the Straboe area of Co. Laois on the night of 9th January 2023?
• Did you see a vehicle matching this description?
• Did you see anybody in the area that may have been acting suspiciously?
• Were you offered any of the items taken during the burglary?
• When the car was recovered it was extensively damaged and the registration plates were missing. Did you see this vehicle between the 9th January and the 13th January 2023? It may have been parked during that time and would have been noticeable by the amount of damage. Do you have any information on the registration plates?
• Have you any dash cam footage to help track the whereabouts and movements of this vehicle between these dates?
• Did you see two people acting suspiciously at the Srah Road / Rahan Road area of Tullamore in the early hours of the 13th January 2023 

Gardaí at Portlaoise Garda Station – Investigating - Tel: 057-8674100

On this month’s Crimecall Sergeant Deirdre O Neill was in studio with advice for parents on how to keep their children safe online. 

Online Safety advice: 

• Through the Garda Schools Programme Gardaí are providing internet safety talks to students. Sometimes school principals have requested that these talks are provided as they have seen issues around sexting. The sending of voluntary pictures to others without any consideration of the consequences. The aim of the talk is to provide education and teach young people to be kind online. Research has been conducted in respect of the Garda Schools Programme and the result indicates that early engagement and intervention can lead to better outcomes for students. 

One part of the school’s programme features internet safety which is delivered in conjunction with Webwise – Connect with Respect which offers step by step advice to post primary school students. (www.webwise.ie) 

Advice to parents – keep children safe online: 

• Start the conversation and highlight the dangers, so that if they occur the children will let you know.
• Cut internet access -off at 8pm for example.
• Restrict adult access on sites - Select Parental control or non-explicit options within the setting on the app.  There are full instructions on the Webwise website with regard to how to restrict access device and limit time. (This can be done by configuring the access control on the wi- fi router.
• Important of having the conversation – setting the boundaries   

Advice to adults - to be aware online: 

• Consider the information you share
• Sharing information about your children
• Holidays, weddings, funerals.
• Competitions - disclosing personal information

Gardaí in Finglas are investigating an attempted robbery at Glenties Park, Finglas on Sunday the 8th of January 2023 shortly after 8.30pm. 

The victim was making a delivery on an electric bicycle when he was confronted by two male suspects who attempted to take his phone and bike. The victim struggled with the two suspects who fled empty handed in the direction of Berryfield Drive, Finglas.

Description of Suspect 1

• - 5'6" in height
• - Bearded
• - Sallow skin
• - Wearing a black hoodie and grey tracksuit bottoms

Description of Suspect 2

• - 5'5" in height
• - White / Irish
• - Wearing all black clothing

Gardaí at Finglas Garda Station – Investigating. Tel: (01) 666 7500

Detective Superintendent Ian Lackey of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau was in studio to offer advice about Sextortion and how The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 has given An Garda Síochána additional powers to deal with complaints.

An Garda Síochána is committed to protecting and supporting all victims and ensuring that keeping people safe and safeguarding human rights are central to the work being carried out.  

An Garda Síochána recognises the harm that is being done to individuals, families and  our society due to Sextortion

An Garda Síochána wants to reassure people that they will work exceptionally hard and in a professional, dedicated and consistent way bring those involved in this type of crime to justice. 

Warning signs:

Something does not add up — their online profile is not consistent with what you see and hear when you talk or chat with them.

It happens too fast — they express strong emotions for you almost straight away, and quickly tempt you across to a more private channel, suggesting you get nude or sexual in a video call.

They make excuses — they say their webcam is not working and instead send a nude photo which they claim is of them.

They say they need help — they say they need money for some sort of personal emergency like medical treatment or to cover the rent…. 

Advice to victims:

• Don’t panic, help and support is available.
• Don’t pay.
• Save the evidence: Take screenshots/Save messages/images. Collect URL links to where the information is being shared online.
• Report it to HOTLINE.IE to request removal of image.
• Report it to Gardaí.
• Block all communication with the person targeting you. 

New Legislation:

• Since the commencement of the legislation An Garda Síochána has commenced 72 prosecutions related to 49 investigations, under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.
• The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 commenced on the 10th February 2021.  It is anticipated that the numbers of prosecutions will continue to rise as further reports and the consequent criminal investigations progress.
• An Garda Síochána continues to partner with Hotline.ie which has created an online reporting facility that enables victims of intimate image abuse (IIA) to report this type of criminal activity to Gardaí, via the hotline website, while simultaneously making an Intimate Image Abuse (IIA) content removal request. Where victims request same, Gardaí will conduct a thorough criminal investigation with a view to prosecuting offenders, while Hotline will engage with the relevant service provider to seek the removal of the harmful content reported. 

Hotline Statistics – February 2023 

• Between September to December 2021 there were 86 contacts withHotline.ie in relation to Intimate Image Abuse(IIA) 

• Between January and December 2022 there were 688 contacts withHotline.ie in relation to Intimate Image Abuse(IIA) 

• There has been a 93% successful removal rate by Hotline.ie in relation in to Intimate images 

• On average removal occurs with 0-3 days 

Role of society:

• There is a role for society by stopping Inappropriate behaviour, which is an area where society will have to come together to eradicate it.

• We in An Garda Síochána will deal with the criminal aspect but to truly eradicate this type of crime, we need the assistance of the public

• Everyone must face up and speak up to change society’s attitudes and to increase awareness around these types of crimes. 

www.safeireland.ie 

www.hotline.ie

The Gardaí at Mayfield station, Cork city are investigating the disappearance of Frank Mc Carthy, (23 years) on the 12th February 1993. On the evening of his disappearance Frank had been at home relaxing, watching television, where he lived with his parents Eileen and Frank (Snr.) 

It is now 30 years since Frank left his home at Lotamore Park, Mayfield, Cork City, at around 6.15pm. It is unknown where Frank went after leaving the Lotamore estate and there haven’t been any sightings or contact with Frank since. 

The following day February 13th he was reported missing by his family to the Gardaí at Cobh Garda station, who commenced a missing person’s investigation. Despite land searches and the ensuing investigation Frank has never been located. 

 Description:

• Neat brown hair
• 5’10
• Medium build 

Clothing:

• Three quarter length wine coloured jacket
• Green jumper
• Navy tracksuit pants
• Green sweater
• White runners

Appeal:

• Do you know where Frank went after he left his home?
• Did you speak to Frank at the time of his disappearance? If so did he impart any piece of information that might account for his disappearance?
• With the passage of time you may feel better placed to come forward and assist the investigation. It maybe something that you have wanted to unburden yourself of over the years, and for whatever reason had difficulty in doing so. Any information no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by Gardaí and Frank’s family.
• Gardaí would like to assure any potential callers that the information you impart will be treated with sensitivity and compassion. (Mayfield Garda station 021 4558510 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.)

On the25th April 2022 Ireland’s first Motorway Average Speed Camera became operational on the M7 Motorway. Average speed cameras were first introduced in the Dublin Port Tunnel in 2017 but this latest system which operates on the M7 between junction 26 Nenagh (West) and junction 27 Birdhill is the first system monitoring motorway speed.

 

Unlike traditional speed detection which measures the motorists speed at one particular point along the road, average speed cameras monitor a driver’s average speed while driving between two points. When driving the first camera will record your number plate, and then the second camera will do likewise. The system will time how long it has taken to travel between these two points to calculate your average speed.

To put it simply, an average speed camera tracks how long it takes to travel between two set points on a road and uses this information to calculate your average speed.

The system on the M7 Motorway operates between two cameras which are set at 9 kms apart and they operate in both directions of the Motorway.

This location on the M7 was chosen due to frequent weather episodes including hail and sleet showers, resulting in increased collision frequency in the area. There were 6 fatalities along this stretch of motorway in the 8 years that preceded the introduction of the average speed cameras.

The non-compliance rate at this location in 2020 was recorded at 32% for motor cars (68% compliance rate). 

The camera system was installed in March 2021, which led to a non-enforcement testing phase which recorded an immediate impact on reducing incidents of speeding on this stretch of motorway.  A 10% non-compliance rate was reported.

The system went live on 25th April 2022 and records an average of 47 speed detections daily. This represents a compliance rate of 96%.

People have changed their behaviour. They know that if they exceed the average speed limit, there will be consequences. Any driver detected speeding by an average speed camera, defined by your average speed exceeding 120km/h, will receive three penalty points on their licence and a €160 fine. They will have a total of 56 days to pay the fine. Failure to do so will result in court proceedings. 

Where safety cameras have been deployed, fatalities and serious injuries as a result of speeding have reduced.

Although motorways are statistically the safest way of moving large volumes of traffic, there are still risks to drivers who use them. Several other areas of motorway have been identified as locations with a history of high speed collisions and will be considered as this system is rolled out across the country. Drivers tend to speed on sections of motorway when there is less traffic and they believe it to be quiet.

During 2022 An Garda Síochána detected 165,115 speeding offences. Speeding is the biggest contributing factor to road deaths in Ireland, it’s a factor in one third of all fatal collisions.

The higher the speed, the greater the likelihood of a collision happening. We are asking people to slow down and always drive within the speed limits. Drive at a speed appropriate to the road and weather conditions, the volume of traffic and the likelihood of hazards. Speed limits are the maximum speed you can drive at on a stretch of road in good conditions.

The Gardaí at Watercourse Road station are investigating a Robbery on Wednesday 11th January 2023, shortly before 5:20pm.  

On the evening in question, a male approached O’Donovans Off Licence on foot and stayed in the proximity of the shop for several minutes.  He then approached the off licence, pulled down a balaclava type face covering and revealed a kitchen knife.  He approached a member of staff and made demands for money.  The suspect took a sum of money from the till and walked out of the business, onto Thomas Davis Street in the direction of Blackpool Shopping Centre.  

The suspect discarded his balaclava in a bush in the Blackpool Shopping Centre.  He then crossed Brother Delaney Road and discarded his black jacket in a bin in an alley way to Blackpool Retail Park. 

The suspect subsequently boarded the 203 bus, from outside Woodies on Brothers Delaney Road and went in the direction of Cork City Centre.  He departed the bus on St Patricks Street, entered a shop and purchased some items and then returned to the bus stop, remaining there for over several minutes.  He then left the area, crossing at St. Patricks Bridge and proceeding along MacCurtain Street eastbound.  He then returned to the City Centre before going onto the Mary Elmes Pedestrian Bridge.  

Description of suspect:

• Male
• Height – 5’8” – 5’10”
• Slim build
• Mid to late twenties
• Irish accent
• Black puffy jacket with no logos or markings on it.
• Black balaclava.
• Black Nike tracksuit bottoms.
• Black runners which had a large white sole and a white marking on the outside heel of both runners. 

Appeal:

• Do you recognise the individual captured on CCTV?
• Were you in the Thomas Davis Street, Blackpool Shopping Centre or Blackpool Retail areas between 5:20pm and 6:00pm on the 11/01/2023.
• Were you at the bus stop on Brother Delaney road next to a Garden Centre, or on the 203 bus that stopped here, heading in the direction of Cork City Centre?
• Were you in the St Patricks Street area and surrounds?
• Did you see a discarded knife?
• Did you see a male matching this description?
• Were you in the area at the time and do you have dashcam footage? 

Gardaí at Watercourse Road Garda Station – Investigating – Tel (021) 4558260

Gardaí in Blanchardstown are investigating a sexual assault that occurred between 5.30pm and 6pm on Monday 14th November 2022.

On the date in question the victim was walking along Blanchardstown Road North in the direction of the N3 (adjacent to Brookhaven Estate) when she was approached by a male suspect who initially asked her for money.

The victim then continued to walk in the direction of the N3, with the suspect following her.

The suspect walked away in the direction of Corduff, following the incident. 

 Description of Suspect

• 5'11" in height
• Approx 20 years of age
• Average build
• Wearing a black puffer jacket and dark tracksuit bottoms 

Gardaí at Blanchardstown Garda Station – investigating. Tel: 01-666-7037