Author: Paul Reynolds

Gardaí in Co Louth have uncovered a major firearms storage depot believed to be operated by an organized crime group. The discovery was made during a raid on a business premises in Ardee, where a significant quantity of guns and ammunition, including machine guns and AR-15 rifles, were seized. Two men in their 30s have been arrested under anti-gang legislation and can be held for questioning for up to seven days. This operation, led by the Organised and Serious Crime and Security and Intelligence sections, involved the Emergency Response Unit and officers from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. The…

Breaking News: 28-year-old man charged for threatening to shoot Sinn Fein leader and Garda Commissioner A 28-year-old man is set to appear in court today after circulating a video online that included threats to shoot Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. The man, who was charged last night, is currently in Garda custody. The video, initially posted on Tik Tok, quickly spread to other social media platforms, showing a man in a balaclava threatening violence against authorities in Coolock. Following his arrest in Dublin yesterday, the suspect faces charges under the Non Fatal Offences Against…

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a threatening video targeting Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. The man, taken into custody in Dublin by the Special Detective Unit, faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for the offense. The video, originally posted on TikTok, depicted a man in a black balaclava making violent threats against both politicians. Mary Lou McDonald described the video as shocking and disturbing, prompting a criminal investigation led by the Special Detective Unit. Despite TikTok and Meta removing the video from their platforms due…

Gardaí in south Dublin have arrested a man after threatening messages towards Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris surfaced on social media. The 28-year-old suspect was apprehended in Rathfarnham and is currently being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. The threatening video, featuring a man in a balaclava making ominous statements, went viral, with the individual promising harm to the Garda Commissioner and officers in Coolock. Following a swift investigation involving various police units, the suspect was located and taken into custody. Authorities also searched his residence, seizing electronic devices and other…

Authorities believe they have made a significant breakthrough in disrupting the operations of the Kinahan organised crime group, with the discovery of over €3 million worth of cocaine in a house in Clondalkin, Dublin. The drugs, neatly sealed and packed into a suitcase, were found during a targeted operation in west Dublin aimed at tackling drug dealing at various levels within organised crime groups. A man and a woman in their 30s were arrested in connection with the seizure, along with the confiscation of scrambler motorbikes commonly used in drug distribution. Gardaí expressed concerns over the dangers posed by these…

A former company director, Tim Gilchrist, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for smuggling €8.4 million worth of cocaine from France into Ireland on a light aircraft. Gilchrist, from Co Waterford, claimed he did so under duress after being threatened to harm his daughter. The lack of security at both the French and Irish aerodromes highlighted the ease of drug smuggling. Despite his claims of coercion, Gilchrist was found guilty of willingly participating in drug trafficking for financial gain. He received a sentence of 11-and-a-half years with the final six months suspended. The judge emphasized the need for increased…

A 26-year-old man, Jonathan Moran, has been sentenced to eight years in jail for raping a woman with a bottle in a garden shed. The victim, Bláthnaid Raleigh, bravely waived her anonymity to allow Moran to be named in the case. The crime was described as appalling and incomprehensible by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Ms. Raleigh suffered extensive physical injuries that required months of treatment in a sexual assault unit. In her victim impact statement, she expressed how her life had been shattered by the attack. Moran maintained his innocence throughout the trial, but DNA evidence linked him to the…

The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, has requested a change in the law to empower gardaí to demand protesters remove face coverings and masks. This call comes in light of recent attacks on politicians’ homes and incidents during the election campaign which have raised concerns. Harris emphasized the need for balanced and proportionate changes to legislation regarding protests and demonstrations. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee echoed the sentiment, stressing that any attack on individuals’ homes is unacceptable. Furthermore, Minister McEntee expressed her concern over gender-based violence, noting that a significant number of Defense Forces and gardaí have faced charges related to…

Crime figures published today by the CSO show an alarming increase in robbery, extortion, and hijacking offences. The rise is attributed to a surge in blackmail and robbery incidents targeted at individuals. While reported sexual offences are decreasing, theft from shops, fraud, and weapons offences are on the rise. Comparing statistics from the past twelve months to the preceding year, data reveals an 18% increase in blackmail, extortion, robbery, and carjacking offences. Theft offences, particularly from shops and cars, also saw an uptick. Organised crime offences rose, with an increase in drug offences, gun and explosive offences, and arson. There…

A 46-year-old man from Blanchardstown has pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder another man in a gangland attack eight years ago in Dublin. Jason ‘Jay’ O’Connor admitted to the charges, including the attempted murder of Charlie Cooper, who was shot multiple times in front of his children at his home in Mulhuddart in 2016. The shocking incident saw a gunman firing shots through a window before chasing Mr. Cooper and shooting at him again. Despite serious injuries, Mr. Cooper recovered after receiving treatment at a hospital. O’Connor also confessed to being involved with an organized crime gang during the same…