[metman]

Rather than opening a new thread every time a news story of note is published....

Two due in court over patrol car ramming incident

24/01/2009 - 09:00:30


Two men are due in court in Dublin this morning in connection with an incident in which a Garda patrol car was rammed. The incident occurred on Wednesday night when uniformed officers were called to the Clonshaugh area. Gardaí say that on arrival they approached a car, which then rammed their patrol car. An 18-year-old man was detained at the scene, while a second man, aged 22, managed to escape but was arrested a short time later.

Gardaí say a loaded revolver was recovered in the car. Both men will appear before Dublin District Court at 10.30am this morning.

[deadwood]

Good idea.

(The picture of a patrol car makes it feel like i'm actually there!)

[metman]

Irish are most worried in EU about crime

By Michael Lavery
Saturday January 24 2009

IRISH people are among the most worried in Europe over organised crime, drugs and terrorism. But, paradoxically, we voiced the most concern about police and judicial information being exchanged with other EU countries, a new EU survey shows. The survey revealed that nearly nine in 10 Irish people view organised crime and terrorism as real threats, above the EU average of 80pc. Least worried were the Poles, with only 57pc of those surveyed expressing concern.

The survey also found that nearly eight out of 10 Irish people feel that the EU can play a positive role in fighting organised crime and terrorism (78pc). This puts us close to the Swedes, who have the most confidence in the benefits of EU co-operation (85pc) and well above the Bulgarians, where only 43pc of respondents thought the EU could help. The overall trend in the Eurobarometer survey showed that Irish people are some of the most concerned in the EU when it comes to these issues:

• In the fight against drug abuse, 88pc of Irish people expressed concern. This puts Ireland close to Cyprus, the member state where most citizens expressed alarm at the level of drug abuse (95pc).

• On immigration policy, 68pc of Irish people said they were concerned. This is above the EU average of 61pc, but below Malta (87pc) and Spain (84pc).

• On asylum policy, 65pc of Irish people said that they were troubled by the system. This ranks us fifth behind Denmark, Britain, Cyprus and Italy.

• For each of the policy areas under review, the majority of citizens felt that EU-level actions would have additional benefit compared to those taken solely at a national level.

• In Ireland 72pc of people felt that EU co-operation in the fight against drugs could enhance the Irish Government's ability to deal with the issue.

However, Irish people were uneasy about the exchange of police and judicial information with other EU authorities. Some 69pc expressed apprehension about this co-operation, the highest of all the member states.

mlavery@herald.ie

- Michael Lavery

[miceal]

Maybe one of the mod's would be so kind as too sticky this for us

Great idea met-man

[Vikings]

Originally Posted by metman

Gardaí say a loaded revolver was recovered in the car.

This line, sounds completely random when read with the rest of that story... made me immediately think of this:

[TheNog]

Originally Posted by miceal

Maybe one of the mod's would be so kind as too sticky this for us

Great idea met-man

Stickied

[metman]

Boy, 15, killed in city stabbing



A 15-year-old boy has been stabbed to death in east London. The teenager was found by police on Whitwell Road in Plaistow at about 2300 GMT on Saturday. A large group of youths ran off as the officers arrived. The boy was taken to hospital where he died soon afterwards. Two people were later arrested on suspicion of murder.

The boy was the first teenager to have met a violent death in London in 2009. Last year, 28 teenagers were killed in violent incidents in the capital. A fingertip search of the scene is being carried out and several police officers are examining the area for evidence and speaking to residents.

In a separate attack, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the head in Tulse Hill, south London. Police said his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. A 16-year-old boy was also shot but suffered only a grazed arm.

Source

Two people have been arrested after a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in east London.

The attack happened at around 11pm last night in Whitwell Road, Plaistow. Police officers were on a routine patrol when they came across a large group of youths who fled when they approached. They discovered a male youth with stab wounds to the chest. He was taken to Royal London hospital, but died less than an hour later from his injuries. Police said the boy's next of kin have been informed.

Two males were arrested on suspicion of murder in the early hours of this morning and are being held at an east London police station. Detectives from the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command unit say they are unsure exactly how the boy came to be injured, and are keeping an "open mind" about what happened. Forensic officers are carrying out a fingertip search of the area. A post-mortem is due to be carried out later. Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source

[metman]

PC's Murder: Man To Be Extradited
25-Jan-09



A three-man armed gang shot the Hertfordshire PC at point-blank range in front of people doing their shopping and going to school....

A man who killed Hertfordshire Constabulary officer Frank Mason will be extradited to the UK after he serves a 30-year sentence in Ireland, it has been decided at Dublin’s High Court.

Perry Wharrie, 49, was part of an armed gang who killed off-duty officer PC Frank Mason in April 1988, in Hemel Hempstead. He and accomplices Charlie McGee and James Hurley had been holding up a Securicor van when Frank intervened and was shot. Wharrie was released early on licence in April 2005, having served 18 years of a life sentence, but fled the county and his Essex home while on parole the following January. He was then found by police again in Ireland during July 2007 when he was involved in a failed drug smuggling operation off the south west coast of Ireland.

PC Mason’s widow Jill said: “I feel I have suffered a life sentence because I still remember the day my husband was shot like yesterday. I never felt 17 years was long enough for his murder. However, I have always felt people deserve a second chance. But, because Wharrie breached his licence and was involved in crime on such a large scale, I felt it was important the UK pushed for his extradition at the end of his lengthy sentence.”

He is currently serving a sentence for the drug smuggling offences in Ireland and is expected to spend at least 22 years behind bars there. This means he will not be extradited until at least 2030.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Maghie said: “Perry Wharrie had no regard for the law. He had his second chance and ultimately threw that back in the face of everyone and got involved in drug importation on a scale that had never been seen in Ireland before. A three-man armed gang executed Frank at point-blank range in front of people doing their shopping and going to school. Life sentence for killing a police officer should mean life and, in this case, I think it will be life. Today’s result helps bring some closure to Frank’s family.”

Charlie McGee has since died in prison and James Hurley is in prison in The Hague. Hertfordshire Constabulary hope to extradite Hurley to the UK also after his current sentence.

Superintendent Steve Hughes, Western Deputy Area commander, said: “I knew Frank well, and officers and staff both still greatly feel his loss on the western area. We have set up the Frank Mason award in his memory which each year goes to an officer who has shown outstanding work and it is voted by staff.”

Source.

*******************

This is a good result. Hopefully Hurley, who was for a number of years, the UK's most wanted man, will follow suit, after what was a callous and brutal murder. Off-duty PC Mason tried to intervene during the robbery and was shot in the back as he attempted to arrest one of the suspects.

[eroo]

25/01/2009 - 15:37:35
An Irish man has been shot dead in a gangland-style attack in the resort of Benalmadena, near Torremolinos in Spain at approximately 11.30pm last night.

Police in the Costa del Sol have launched an investigation into the fatal attack.

It is understood the victim may be from Co Meath.

The 30-year-old, who has not been named, was walking down the street when a gunman arrived on the scene by car.

He fired several shots and the victim was hit a number of times.

It is understood he died at the scene.

It has been reported police are investigating the possibility that the murder was linked to a turf war between rival drug gangs in the area.

Could this be linked to any of the numerous feuds in Dublin?

[foreign]

Originally Posted by eroo

Could this be linked to any of the numerous feuds in Dublin?

Looks like it alright. Just on RTE now.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0125/shooting.html

[TheNog]

Here is another feel good story for the Gardai. One of the mules is a very good mate of mine. It happened exactly as reported below



mother and three children have been taken to hospital following a house fire in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

Gardaí said they received a report of the house fire in Swords at around 4am.

When Gardaí arrived at the house on Hilltown Close, Rivervalley in Swords at about 4.15am they found a woman trapped in a first floor back bedroom.

A Garda tried to enter the house by the front door but was beaten back by smoke and flames.

Gardaí then used a ladder from a neighbouring house to rescue the woman.

Earlier three children aged 10, four and one were rescued from the house by the woman's boyfriend - who she had telephoned.

It's understood the woman lowered the children down to him.

The woman, who's in her late twenties, and the three children, were then taken to hospital where they're being treated for smoke inhalation.

The house was extensively damaged and an investigation is under way into the cause of the fire.

Gardaí said initial indications are that it was accidental.

Source

[foxtrot-oscar]

Originally Posted by TheNog

Here is another feel good story for the Gardai. One of the mules is a very good mate of mine. It happened exactly as reported below



mother and three children have been taken to hospital following a house fire in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

Gardaí said they received a report of the house fire in Swords at around 4am.

When Gardaí arrived at the house on Hilltown Close, Rivervalley in Swords at about 4.15am they found a woman trapped in a first floor back bedroom.

A Garda tried to enter the house by the front door but was beaten back by smoke and flames.

Gardaí then used a ladder from a neighbouring house to rescue the woman.

Earlier three children aged 10, four and one were rescued from the house by the woman's boyfriend - who she had telephoned.

It's understood the woman lowered the children down to him.

The woman, who's in her late twenties, and the three children, were then taken to hospital where they're being treated for smoke inhalation.

The house was extensively damaged and an investigation is under way into the cause of the fire.

Gardaí said initial indications are that it was accidental.

Source

Excellent work

[TheNog]

Yeah only one injury reported on site was when the neighbour threw the ladder over the back garden fence, it hit my mate on the head cos he wasnt looking!!!!

oh how I laughed

[Paulzx]

I presume this thread isn't only police related stuff


Family treated after mobile home fire
Monday, 26 January 2009 08:20

A family was treated for smoke inhalation after a mobile home caught fire near the village of Brittas, Co Dublin.

Three units of the Dublin Fire Brigade from Tallaght were called to the fire at Newbrook Lawns at 12.50am.

An ambulance also attended and took the family to Tallaght Hospital.


OOps. Posted in wrong thread. Was supposed to be in News Thread. Can you move it mods





http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0126/fire.html

[foxtrot-oscar]

Originally Posted by TheNog

Yeah only one injury reported on site was when the neighbour threw the ladder over the back garden fence, it hit my mate on the head cos he wasnt looking!!!!

oh how I laughed

You know what to do nog, slag him forever more, make sure you say it at his retirement party too lol