What exactly are the Gardai at ?

Citizen_Erased

Has anyone else noticed any strange behaviour by the Gardai over the last few days , in particular large motorcades of unmarked cars travelling at full pelt , sirens on?
A number of us had noticed a large presence of unmarked cars and I have had plenty of sighting myself. On Sunday , leaving my mother to the airport in Derry , a number of unmarked cars went passed with sirens on seperately heading for Letterkenny. Then coming back over the border from Derry there was a large mass of unmarked cars , maybe 5, parked up just yards from the actual border. Then today a large motorcade (5 cars or so , 3 bikes) was seen travelling out of Letterkenny in the dual carriage way direction. This is as well as a high presence of unmarked cars everywhere else.
It seems as though they are after something high profile , has anyone any knowledge about what they're up to ? My father said he had heard words of a customs blitz , the usual dipping for diesel and whatnot but this seems all too extravegant for a few gallons of the green . It definitly seems like something (or someone) of much higher value .

Bogger77

Maybe related to : http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhojmhgbaukf/

muffler

This thread would explain it in more detail

smashey

That would be the new armed Gardai dashing off to change into plain clothes before they can use their guns.

Citizen_Erased

muffler wrote: »

This thread would explain it in more detail

Thanks muffler , hadn't actually read that thread yet

blue shimmering

smashey wrote: »

That would be the new armed Gardai dashing off to change into plain clothes before they can use their guns.

Are we really sure that they have done anything at all, it's not that long ago things were planted and innocent people framed? I think they are a bit foolish going in to this situation so publically without seeming to have any reason for it! I suppose we will find out in due course but do hope it is not another set up!

lostexpectation

saw them on rte news tonite transferred in a big convoy to the SC court

Senna

blue shimmering wrote: »

Are we really sure that they have done anything at all, it's not that long ago things were planted and innocent people framed? I think they are a bit foolish going in to this situation so publically without seeming to have any reason for it! I suppose we will find out in due course but do hope it is not another set up!

I guess the BBC journalists wouldn't have been doing a story on them if they were just average joe's? but seen they haven't been named, there is no harm speculating what is going on.

weren't some of them in court today?

As for it being a set-up, that just goes to show how much damage those two ****** of garda's have done to Donegal and now every garda find in Donegal will be dealt with apprehension.

blue shimmering

Senna wrote: »

I guess the BBC journalists wouldn't have been doing a story on them if they were just average joe's? but seen they haven't been named, there is no harm speculating what is going on.

Absolutely right but why take them in when they were being interviewed by the BBC, does it not seem rather over the top - as if they are looking for publicity?:eek:

weren't some of them in court today?

I haven't seen the News today as yet but will take your word for it that some of them were in court today, what exactly are they supposed to have done - if the only thing they were doing was talking to the BBC?

As for it being a set-up, that just goes to show how much damage those two ****** of garda's have done to Donegal and now every garda find in Donegal will be dealt with apprehension.

There was more than two involved in all that happened in Donegal, Mc Brearty, the publican up in Quigley's Point, the situation in Ardara, bombs made by them and planted and then by the way found by them! Others had to and did know what was going on and didn't do anything about it including the former Justice Minister Mc Dowell!:(

This is going off the point a bit I suppose but I think it will take a long time before the general public will trust the gardai in Donegal again - it is a pity because the majority of them are ok and want to do a good job! I did hear at the time the man was killed in Raphoe that it was a set up long before it went public and to be honest do admire the guts and determination that the Mc Brearty's had in following it through when a lot of others would have given up!:mad:

At the same time I would say they do have some very bad people under arrest at the moment and do hope if this is the case they have enough evidence to put them in to jail for a long time!;)

Senna

^^^point taken
But as their case has been, very publicly, brought to the public attention, it was just those that have done the most damage (so far).
my point was really that we cant allow a few bad eggs to cloud our judgment of all the future work of the garda.
I agree that its a tiny minority of them and its a shame its brought the whole force down in the publics mind.

Anyway back on topic before muffler comes in with his whip

Four in Special Criminal Court following Donegal arrests Mar 18, 11:52 pm
Four men have been charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the IRA at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court tonight

All four men have addresses in Derry. They are 38 year old Gary Donnelly of Kildrum Gardens, 28 year old Michael Gallagher of Sackville Court, 39 year old Patrick John McDaid of Marlborough St and Martin Francis O'Neill of Colmcille Court, whose date of birth is unknown.

All four have been remanded in custody until next Tuesday, when bail applications are expected to be heard.

The four men who apeared in court last night were arrested along with seven others in seperate operations across Donegal on Sunday. Four of those arrested BBC personnel attached to the Spotlight programme. They were released on Sunday night. Three others were released on Monday night pending the preparation of a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

http://www.highlandradio.com/news.php?articleid=000001844

smashey

Senna wrote: »

Anyway back on topic before muffler comes in with his whip

And his stilettoes.

muffler

Someone called? :rolleyes:



Im watching

donegalman1

What is referred to appears indeed to be the Garda operation regarding the BBC and disident republicans.

But the question then must be asked, why target a BBC operation in Donegal. Its obvious the Gardai became aware of something, and judging by an armed response from their specialist units do not normally be sitting around, there must have been a plan in action. I wonder, and I am only doing the whole conspiracy therory, but perhaps they were pre-empting a massive blow by the BBC highlighting activities locally.

I mean the ERU do not hang about here (I persume it was the EMU) and perhaps it was better to hit this operation rather than let the BBC either expose something or put informers at risk.

Either way I am sure the BBC will have to take court action to access their tapes and in any case an upcoming programme of interest may have been ruined. To be fair, it has been alleged that the security services ignored warnings about omagh so perhaps it is better they act in all cases.

I wonder, genuinely, would it have been more productive to let the programmes continue and see what could be gathered from them. I'm not sure that the BBC would have to supply all info they have up to this though to the Guards.

One thing is certain, it looks as if the gardai are ahead of the game which must be of benefit to everyone both sides of the border. But I do hope the BBC run the progamme as there may be something we all need to take stock of.