News Thread for all ES related

donvito99 · 16-02-2009 3:51pm

Source: Previous article.

Is this a Garda van? Looks more like a gardening companies van if you ask me.

Zuppy · 16-02-2009 5:48pm

2 unarmed against 5 armed. The Garda baton charge, 2 abrest, was unprovoked.

16-02-2009 9:08pm

Plans for a dedicated all-Ireland air ambulance service have been launched in Cork.

Organisers say the charity-funded project aims to raise €85,000 a month to run the service, which is based on a community-funded system operating in Cornwall in England for over 20 years.

The air ambulance will attend road traffic accidents and medical emergencies where rapid transport to hospital is needed or where remote location makes access impossible for conventional ambulances.

Chairman of the trustees of the project Derek Rowe said that he had conceived the idea after a close friend died following a road traffic accident.

The Bulker helicopter arrived in Cork today and will operate eight hours a day during weekdays.

Source

Link to All Ireland Air Ambulance

Hopefully this will be a success and gets extended.

CLADA · 22-02-2009 7:44pm

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0222/westmanstown.html

I know it wasn't the ideal place to carry out a shooting

, but unarmed members tackling gunmen again, another great piece of work congrats all round.

eroo · 22-02-2009 7:56pm

CLADA wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0222/westmanstown.html

I know it wasn't the ideal place to carry out a shooting , but unarmed members/hurlers tackling gunmen again, another great piece of work congrats all round.

Fixed that for ya!:D

CLADA · 22-02-2009 8:13pm

eroo wrote: »

Fixed that for ya!:D

Fix it again, they were golfers

eroo · 22-02-2009 8:21pm

CLADA wrote: »

Fix it again, they were golfers

Well, what else are hurlers supposed to do in their spare time?:D

cpstears · 23-02-2009 11:14am

Children witnessed garda club shooting
Monday, 23 February 2009 09:19

Gardaí have called in child psychologists and care workers to counsel and interview the three children of a man shot in Dublin yesterday.

The man, who is in his 30s, was seriously injured in the attack at the Garda Sports and Social Club in Westmanstown.

Three girls aged between three and ten were with their father when a gunman walked up to their car in the car park and fired up to seven shots.
Advertisement

The victim, who is Moldovan, was hit a number of times in the chest and upper body and remains in a critical condition and under guard in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.

The children's father also had a gun but did not fire it.

The gunman was tackled by two off-duty gardaí and arrested.

First a detective kicked the gun out of his hand; then a garda from Tallaght used a hurley to subdue him.

The gunman, who is also Moldovan and in his 30s, is still being questioned at Lucan Garda Station.

The two guns, both semi-automatic pistols, are being forensically examined.

deadwood · 23-02-2009 2:02pm

"subdue" and "hurley" in the same sentence without one of these:

?

donvito99 · 23-02-2009 6:26pm

Suggestion for Garda kit: Standard issue hurleys to replace ASPs.

eroo · 23-02-2009 11:14pm

donvito99 wrote: »

Suggestion for Garda kit: Standard issue hurleys to replace ASPs.

It already is standard issue to any Garda who's not from Dublin!

eroo · 23-02-2009 11:15pm

CLADA wrote: »

Fix it again, they were golfers

Ahem:mad:

metman · 27-02-2009 9:34pm

Family held hostage as €7m stolen from BoI

Friday, 27 February 2009 20:04

An armed gang is being sought after a bank official and his family were held hostage at their Co Kildare home overnight.

It is thought up to €7m was stolen when the official was forced to go to the Bank of Ireland on College Green in Dublin and withdraw the cash.

The gang forced their way into the home of bank employee Shane Travers in Kilteel last night and took the worker's partner, Stephanie Smith, her mother, Joan Smith and Joan's five-year-old grandson hostage.

Ms Smith was beaten before the family was taken away in the family car.

Shane Travers, who is in his 20s, was then forced to drive his car to the bank.

After withdrawing the money, he handed it over to the gang at Clontarf DART station. His family was then released in the Ashbourne area, Co Meath.

The red Toyota Celica was later found burned out in an apartment block near Tolka House Pub, Glasnevin.

Gardaí are now appealing for information on the movements of the cars used in the incident - the bank official's red Toyota Celica (99-D-8856) and the family's dark Volkswagen Golf (05-D-33720).

The men involved are described as being very tall and one is of particularly strong build and may be a bodybuilder.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Rathcoole/Kilteel areas at around 5.30am this morning, or in the Clontarf or Ashbourne areas after 7am, are asked to contact gardaí on 045 884389.

No shots were fired during the incident but the family is said to be extremely traumatised.

Proper procedures not followed - Ahern

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has said proper procedures were not followed during the raid this morning.

Mr Ahern expressed his shock that such a heist could result from one man being targeted.

The Minister confirmed this afternoon that gardaí were not contacted until the money had left bank premises, which is said is not in compliance with proper procedures.

Mr Ahern said several issues of concern have been raised and discussions between the bank authorities and gardaí would take place.

He said he was concerned about the way the matter was handled, and that the main focus now is to investigate the matter.

Although he did not confirm the amount stolen, he said media reports are not far off the mark.

Mr Ahern confirmed that the CEO of the Bank of Ireland has emailed all staff following the robbery reminding them of the procedures which should be followed when such events occurred.

He said it is easy for people to say that things should have been done better, however he said an enormous amount of pressure comes on staff when such events occur.

The Minister said he is in no way critical of the people involved but he said the banks must ensure that any gaps exposed as a result of the robbery are closed and closed quickly.

New Bank of Ireland Chief Executive Richie Boucher sent an email to all staff this afternoon to remind them of the bank's security procedures.

He said: 'Our priority is always for the safety and well-being of all staff. I am sure this incident will raise concerns. Our best defence is to follow tried and tested procedures.

'I would ask everybody to remind themselves of these procedures, which are there to protect you, your families and the bank.'
**************************

It is thought up to €7m was stolen when the official was forced to go to the Bank of Ireland on College Green in Dublin and withdraw the cash.

Typical. I can only withdraw 300 quid at a time on my card!

Random · 27-02-2009 9:36pm

The Minister confirmed this afternoon that gardaí were not contacted until the money had left bank premises, which is said is not in compliance with proper procedures.

What does this mean or relate to?

cushtac · 27-02-2009 9:43pm

Random wrote: »

What does this mean or relate to?

He's talking about the security procedures that were agreed between the Gardaí and the banks and which are supposed to be followed by banks in the event of these crimes.

Random · 27-02-2009 9:45pm

cushtac wrote: »

He's talking about the security procedures that were agreed between the Gardaí and the banks and which are supposed to be followed by banks in the event of these crimes.

What are these? That there's some button in the vault that tells the Garda that something is going down but not to rush in? I'm assuming it's public knowledge if it's mentioned in the news article?

metman · 27-02-2009 9:50pm

Random wrote: »

What are these??

That'd be operational information and not best discussed here, ye should know that by now

Random · 27-02-2009 9:55pm

I think my querys were fair and justified based on the information provided in the article. I posted expecting an answer or a "nope, it's a secret". So I'm happy enough anyway

cushtac · 27-02-2009 9:55pm

Random wrote: »

What are these? That there's some button in the vault that tells the Garda that something is going down but not to rush in? I'm assuming it's public knowledge if it's mentioned in the news article?

Are you for real????

What would be the point in having security measures to mitigate against this kind of thing if their exact nature was public knowledge?? And do you really think that anyone in the know would advertise the fact here then tell you all about it???

Random · 27-02-2009 9:57pm

cushtac wrote: »

Are you for real????

What would be the point in having security measures to mitigate against this kind of thing if their exact nature was public knowledge?? And do you really think that anyone in the know would advertise the fact here then tell you all about it???

I feel my question is perfectly reasonable and justified considering the comments in the article.

Proper procedures not followed - Ahern

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has said proper procedures were not followed during the raid this morning.

The Minister confirmed this afternoon that gardaí were not contacted until the money had left bank premises, which is said is not in compliance with proper procedures.

Mr Ahern said several issues of concern have been raised and discussions between the bank authorities and gardaí would take place.

He said he was concerned about the way the matter was handled, and that the main focus now is to investigate the matter.

I'm happy with a "go away, it's a secret" as I say, but if it was public knowledge (as suggested by Mr Ahern perhaps going on about it) then I'd like to know about it.

That is all.

cushtac · 27-02-2009 10:14pm

Random wrote: »

I feel my question is perfectly reasonable and justified considering the comments in the article.

You think it's perfectly reasonable to expect people to discuss the specifics of bank security on an open forum, on the day after after a bank official & his family were assaulted and terrorised?

Random wrote: »

I'm happy with a "go away, it's a secret" as I say, but if it was public knowledge (as suggested by Mr Ahern perhaps going on about it) then I'd like to know about it.

That is all.

The mere fact that the existence of something is public knowledge doesn't mean you have the right to know anything about it. The existence of Portlaoise prison is public knowledge, that doesn't mean the specifics of the prison's security arrangements should be public too.

Use your loaf.

Random · 27-02-2009 10:16pm

I don't believe I have the right to know anything that I shouldn't. I felt asking if it was public knowledge and if it was could someone tell me about it was fair and reasonable based on the comments in the article. I guess we're gonna differ on this one so we'll just have to agree to leave it there - we're dragging this thread off course.

Eru · 27-02-2009 10:40pm

I dont know exact ins and outs about this case but the one thing I do feel is unfair is how the banks are being blamed for not alerting Gardai sooner.

The person in question had only one concern, his families safety. Money must always be secondary to life and I personally feel any bank that thinks the same as me should be applauded not condemned.

Now, there may or may not be factors I am unaware of but that my take at the moment and if my family were threatened, sorry but apprehending suspects is at best, my secondary concern.

Sierra Oscar · 27-02-2009 11:01pm

It is coming to the point where Bank workers are going to beed personal panic alarms.

TheNog · 28-02-2009 2:33am

Mr Ahern expressed his shock that such a heist could result from one man being targeted.

Tbh Im shocked Ahern is so shocked that one man was targeted. Has he never heard of the Northern Bank job??

I cannot understand how this type of job can still be carried out. Im blaming the guy or his family, in fact I hope they recover from this ordeal. God only knows it may take some time. If one of the security procedures in place is for the employee to alert Gardai he has a gun to his head, then who ever dreamed up that rule should be shot with balls of their own ****e.

Im presuming this raid on the bank took place at night so why is the bank's alarm not being monitored? Why is it no one knew the alarm had been deactivated during the night? And why the hell is there no time lock on the vault? The latter is a very basic security measure.

If this money is insured then an insurance company/Central Bank should refuse to pay out. Let BoI foot the bill for this absolute travesty.

CLADA · 28-02-2009 3:00am

Don't get too frustrated about this robbery. I'll let you in on a secret, it has a happy ending

kerry4sam · 28-02-2009 5:57am

I wonder will the full details be disclosed as regards procedures and regulations in the bank should an event occur. I mean it's not like they never spoke of an event like it happening, or could they be that naieve

. Time will tell I suppose ... just like everything else :pac:

Sierra Oscar · 28-02-2009 9:59am

CLADA wrote: »

Don't get too frustrated about this robbery. I'll let you in on a secret, it has a happy ending

Seven arrested over Bank of Ireland raid

Dr_MaSoN · 28-02-2009 11:50am

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

Seven arrested over Bank of Ireland raid

Fair play didnt expect that.

deadwood · 28-02-2009 12:23pm

Dr_MaSoN wrote: »

Fair play didnt expect that.

Wouldn't be much of a "raid" then, would it?:D

metman · 28-02-2009 8:32pm

CLADA wrote: »

it has a happy ending

If its anything other than "and lo' metman's fortune did change and much beer was drank on his discovering 7 million euro in his account", I'm going to be very frikkin disappointed

eroo · 28-02-2009 8:47pm

28/02/2009 - 18:08:31
A 23-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Garryowen rugby player Shane Geoghegan.

Barry Doyle, originally from Portland Row in Dublin, but with an address at Hyde Road in Limerick, has been charged at a special sitting of Limerick District Court this afternoon.

Geoghegan was killed close to his home in Dooradoyle in Limerick on November 9, 2008.

He was shot nine times with a Glock semi-automatic pistol when he tried to run from his killer hours after watching Ireland beat Canada in his native city.

He was hit three times in the upper body and once in the head, apparently the victim of mistaken identity in a city gripped by a bitter turf war between rival crime families.

Sixteen people died last year in violence related to a feud involving three rival Limerick families.

Fifteen people have been arrested for questioning about the Geoghegan murder and seven remain in custody.

This and a cracking result in 6N makes me very happy indeed!!:)

CLADA · 02-03-2009 12:28am

metman wrote: »

If its anything other than "and lo' metman's fortune did change and much beer was drank on his discovering 7 million euro in his account", I'm going to be very frikkin disappointed

That's not a happy ending, that's a fairytale ending

Dr_MaSoN · 02-03-2009 3:26am

deadwood wrote: »

Wouldn't be much of a "raid" then, would it?:D

metman · 02-03-2009 3:32am

CLADA wrote: »

That's not a happy ending, that's a fairytale ending

Dayum son I know that, so where my 7 million euros at? :P

donvito99 · 02-03-2009 3:26pm

Banks to review security procedures

The country's banks and financial institutions are to carry out a full review of security procedures following the theft of €7.6m from Bank of Ireland last Friday.
Senior security personnel met with senior garda officers, led by an Assistant Commissioner, in charge of crime and security at Garda Headquarters this morning.
After the meeting a garda spokesman said a full and frank discussion took place where all issues were examined.

The meeting was arranged to review the operation of the security protocol in all banks and to try to establish why staff at BoI failed to adhere to it.
BoI says it has no comment in relation to why gardaí were not alerted to last Friday's raid in time.
RTÉ News has also learned that the bank official who was forced to hand over the money also told another bank employee that the gang was monitoring their home.
It is understood Shane Travers showed a senior staff member a photograph of their home which was taken by the gang.
Seven people are still being questioned in connection with the raid and a Dublin District Court extended their periods of detention last night by another 24 hours.
However, three of those seven have gone to the High Court seeking their release, as they claim their period of detention is unlawful.
The amount of money recovered from the robbery of Dublin city centre's College Green branch of the bank is now put at €1.8m.
A previous estimate had put the amount recovered at €4m.
A gang forced their way into the home of Mr Travers in Kilteel, Co Kildare, last Thursday night.
Mr Travers was forced to withdraw €7.6m from the bank while his partner, Stephanie Smith, her mother, Joan Smith and Joan's five-year-old grandson were held hostage.
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern held discussions over the weekend and agreed that senior garda officers should meet security personnel from the country's financial institutions.

deadwood · 02-03-2009 4:59pm

donvito99 wrote: »

Banks to review security procedures

They've ordered one of these mattresses!

kerry4sam · 02-03-2009 6:48pm

http://www.tv3.ie/article.php?article_id=9492&locID=1.2.&pagename=news A link to a piece on the tv3 news just now about Martin Cullen.

Aparently the former Minister for Transport was in a helicopter flying over Killarney when a door fell right off the helicopter and they have to make an emergency landing at a golf-course ... What are the odds like :pac:

metman · 02-03-2009 7:17pm

kerry4sam wrote: »

What are the odds like :pac:

50/50. Either it'll fall off or it won't?

deadwood · 02-03-2009 7:33pm

kerry4sam wrote: »

Aparently the former Minister for Transport was in a helicopter flying over Killarney when a door fell right off the helicopter and they have to make an emergency landing at a golf-course ... What are the odds like :pac:

It's a little comment on the Celtic Tiger - ministers . . . . helicopters . . .golf course . . . .and the door fell off!

kerry4sam · 03-03-2009 12:02am

metman wrote: »

50/50. Either it'll fall off or it won't?

yeah im sure the manufacturers see it that way also ah sur you'll have a 50/50 chance you won't get a strong breeze in the back-door to you when you're 500ft up

Com1186 · 03-03-2009 2:22am

Praise for Gardaí as pair found guilty

http://www.braypeople.ie/news/praise-for-gardaiacute-as-pair-found-guilty-1654955.html

GARDAI have been praised for their investigations which led to the convictions of two men found guilty of assaulting an off-duty inspector and another man in Bray.
Insp. Jim Delaney, his girlfriend Eva O'Connor and their friend John Crowe were attacked by Edward Doran and John Cox and three others in a laneway between Killarney Road and Ardmore Crescent in the early hours of January 27, 2008.
Finding the pair guilty of assault, Judge Murrough Connellan told Bray District Court that the detectives who investigated the attack were to be commended for their work.
'They are to be congratulated, not castigated,' said Judge Connellan.The two men denied the assault, both claiming alibis for the night of the attack.

deadwood · 05-03-2009 1:50pm

Apparantly, we're workers now. Not just the strong arm of an oppressive fascist regime. Glad that's been cleared up so.

Pity, though. The fascists always had sexier uniforms.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y-8YMcinkc

eroo · 09-03-2009 12:51am

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5864941.ece

The SRR, which conducts intrusive and long-range surveillance, has been given responsibility for monitoring other dissidents in Armagh, Fermanagh and Derry, including RIRA bomb-makers and CIRA explosives experts. The National Surveillance Unit (NSU), an elite garda unit, has also been deployed to the border region.

]Recent intelligence made available to the PSNI, MI5 and Crime and Security, the garda spying agency, suggests an upsurge in activity in dissident activity. The terror organisations, which have a floating membership, have stepped up recruitment and reorganised their internal security to counter infiltration by the police. They have also acquired weapons, including handguns and machinegun pistols, from criminals involved in the drugs trade in Dublin and Louth.

“The RIRA and CIRA are no longer obsessed with the notion of mounting a ‘spectacular’ bomb attack on a highprofile target,” said a security source. “It is just as likely that, sooner or later, a PSNI officer on the beat will be shot dead by a stranger who simply walks up to them and produces a gun.”

Dissident terror groups have recently extended their targeting to include civilian workers employed by the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Their aim is to force soldiers back onto the streets to support the PSNI.

The terror groups have become factionalised, making monitoring more difficult. The RIRA has divided into four groups and the CIRA has split.

“A year ago there were three terrorist groups with a defined membership. Now there are at least six, and possibly a seventh organisation which has yet to declare its existence,” the security source said. “The membership of these groups is made up of committed republicans who live in both urban and rural communities. That is why specialist undercover troops are being used to monitor suspects who live at remote farmhouses along the border and in housing estates.”

There have been more than 15 attacks by republican terrorist groups since November including shootings, booby-trap bombs, landmines and the attempted Ballykinler attack.

15 attacks/attempted attacks since November? Makes for worrying reading! However I look forward to hearing about plenty of arrests North and South in the not too distant future, just like the last time dissidents kicked up.

lehanemore · 10-03-2009 8:08pm

Trojan911 · 13-03-2009 11:40am

Death in Custody

wrote:

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 52 year-old man while in Garda custody at Navan Garda Station last night.

The man, understood to be from the locality, was taken into custody earlier yesterday afternoon, according to a statement issued this morning by the office of the Garda Ombudsman Commission.

The statement said the man "was said to have been in an intoxicated state and was taken into custody for public order reasons."

"Late last night, gardaí found that they could not rouse the man from sleep and medical assistance was called."

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

State coroner Dr. John Lacey was consulted and the state Pathologist Dr. Marie Cassidy is expected to conduct a post-mortem later today.

The man cannot be named at this time for family reasons.

The matter was referred to the Garda Ombudsman Commission by the Garda Síochána under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.

This is the procedure where the ombudsman is notified in cases where serious harm or death is thought to have occurred during a Garda operation.

donvito99 · 13-03-2009 6:41pm

Explosion at house in Blackrock, Dublin

Friday, 13 March 2009 17:02
A house in Blackrock has been completely destroyed by an explosion this afternoon.
Dublin Fire Brigade says the front of the house at St Anne's Square, Temple Road, collapsed following the explosion.
Four people have been taken to hospital following the blast.

It is understood three of those taken to hospital were in a house nearby at the time of the explosion and one other person was a passer-by.
There is no update yet on their condition.

The cause of the blast is not known but Bord Gáis personnel are on their way to the scene.
An eyewitness said five units of the fire brigade, three ambulances and the garda helicopter were all at the scene.
St Anne's Square and Temple Road are closed due to the incident.
Traffic is being diverted via Carysfort Avenue and there are delays in the area as a result.

www.rte.ie

donvito99 · 16-03-2009 7:29pm

Three family members die in Drogheda fire

Monday, 16 March 2009 17:32

Three members of the same family have died and three others have been injured in a house fire in Co Louth.

The blaze broke out in the house on the Moneymore housing estate in north Drogheda this morning.

The three who died were aged from eight to 21 years of age.

Two three pople, who were also injured in the fire, have been transferred from our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to hospitals in Dublin.

The two adults were transferred to St James Hospital while the 13-year-old boy is now at Temple Street Chilren's Hospital in Dublin.

The adults have been named locally as Anthony and Kathleen McDonogh.
Drogheda Fire Service says it was alerted to the fire at 7.50am this morning.

The fire is believed to have started in the living room downstairs in the front of the house and quickly spread to all rooms except for the kitchen, which is at the back of the house.

Neighbours tried to get into the house but could not do so because the house was ablaze.

The fire has since been brought under control.
Two other children were staying with relatives at the time.

www.rte.ie/news

RIP

eroo · 24-03-2009 5:30pm

A Thai fireman turned superhero when he dressed up as comic-book character Spider-Man to coax a frightened eight-year-old from a balcony, police said Tuesday.

Teachers at a special needs school in Bangkok alerted authorities on Monday when an autistic pupil, scared of going to lessons, sat out on the third-floor ledge and refused to come inside, a police sergeant told AFP.

Despite teachers' efforts to beckon the boy inside, he refused to budge until his mother mentioned her son's love of superheroes, prompting fireman Sonchai Yoosabai to take a novel approach to the problem.

"My fireman rushed back to the fire station and took out his Spider-Man costume... The boy immediately ran into his arms with a smile," sergeant Virat Boonsadao said.

He said the fireman keeps the costume at work to liven up school fire drills

Brilliant!

daithip · 24-03-2009 9:00pm

Could have saved alot of time if he had just worn it under his uniform like Superman

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