Gardai use new powers to tackle ATM-raid gang
Saturday November 28 2009
GARDAI are using new anti-gangland powers in their investigation into the activities of a group of criminals responsible for a spate of robberies, including ATM raids, in the past year.
Nine suspects were in custody last night as a result of a series of searches in four counties since Wednesday.
Some of them are being questioned about alleged participation in, or facilitating, an organised gang, a specific offence under the new legislation that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' jail.
Senior officers said last night they were making significant progress with their inquiries and were awaiting the results of DNA tests on a number of items. If the investigation results in a criminal prosecution, it will be the first charge to be brought under the legislation since it was enacted last July.
An estimated 80 criminals are currently being targeted by gardai under the anti-gangland offensive.
The inquiries over the past three days have been focused particularly on a gang based in west Dublin with associates in Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny.
Gardai believe the gang netted about €500,000 from the raids in which the criminals used JCBs and heavy plant machinery to rip ATMs from the walls of banks and shops.
Four searches were carried out yesterday and resulted in the arrest of a man in his 30s in Carlow. He was being held last night in New Ross station under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
On Thursday, two men and a woman were detained. Aged in their late 20s and early 30s, they were also arrested under section 30 in Enniscorthy, Carlow and Lucan in west Dublin and were still being held last night.
They can be kept in custody without charge for three days.
Eight of the 13 originally arrested in the four counties on Wednesday have since been released without charge.
Detention
The other five, who were detained under section 50 of the new legislation, allowing gardai to hold them without charge for up to seven days, had their periods of detention extended at a special court sitting in Wexford town on Thursday night.
Gardai seized a large amount of documentation during their searches of 27 homes and the Criminal Assets Bureau has frozen about €30,000 in cash lodged in bank accounts. The operation involved the national support services, including the bureau and the organised crime unit and detectives from the south eastern and eastern regions.
Gardai think the gang was behind raids in Monaghan, Athboy in Co Meath, Mother Hubbards pub and restaurant in Enfield on the Kildare-Meath border, Enniscorthy and Graiguenamagh in Co Kilkenny, where the robbers demolished a cottage that had been converted into a bank as they tried to pull out the ATM.
Officers said the gang were attempting to launder the proceeds of the robberies through the sale of cars and purchase of horses.
The gang has also been blamed for a series of five smash-and-grab type raids in Co Carlow and Co Wicklow earlier this year.
- Tom Brady Security Editor
Irish Independent
