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BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Three people arrested after man and woman seriously assaulted at house in Co Down
Three people have been arrested by police investigating a serious assault against two people at a property in Rathfriland in Co Down. A woman, who is aged in her 30s, said she had been held against her will by three people at the property on Dromore Street area, before she was repeatedly assaulted. Advertisement Detective Sergeant Stewart said that police received a report just after 9.10pm that a woman with facial injuries had been found by a member of the public in the Newry Street area. Police spoke to the woman, who said she had been assaulted throughout the evening. Response officers, with the assistance of colleagues from the Armed Response Unit, went to the property on Dromore Street. Inside, they found a man, aged in his 30s, who had also sustained serious facial injuries. Advertisement The injured man and woman were taken to hospital for treatment. Detective Sergeant Stewart said: 'We have arrested a 25-year-old woman on suspicion of a number of offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment and robbery. 'A man, aged 29, has been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment and non-fatal strangulation. 'A second man, aged 23, has also been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment and robbery. Advertisement 'They remain in custody at this time. 'We would appeal to anyone who may have noticed any suspicious behaviour in the Dromore Street area throughout Sunday to make contact us. 'We would also be keen to hear from anyone who may have dashcam, CCTV or other footage.'
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Man was thinking about Grand Theft Auto game as bullet hit windscreen during Cork crime spree
The video game Grand Theft Auto was on the mind of a man on a crime spree that culminated in the ramming of garda cars with a seven-tonne rigid truck — and the escapade did not end until a garda fired a single shot through the windscreen. It emerged today that the man had never been in trouble before this spree but had been a victim of a workplace assault when struck in the head with a six-kilo kettlebell and suffered a behaviour-altering head injury. He was diagnosed with post-concussive injury exacerbated by drug abuse. 'I think you have reduced culpability as a result of that head injury,' Judge Helen Boyle said. She imposed a total sentence of three-and-a-half years with the last six months suspended in the case against Istvan Konyari, aged 38, who had been living at an apartment at Shandon Street. He later told gardaí that the ramming felt like a scene from the video game Grand Theft Auto. During a burglary in Owenahincha during his spree, the owner of the property came downstairs to see Konyari in her kitchen where he had made himself a cup of coffee and was eating crackers. He fled when he saw her. The defendant, who was represented by Alison McCarthy barrister, apologised to all of those affected by his crime spree. He said said he was not doing well as a result of the injury he suffered and he regretted not taking help earlier. Instead of medical help and prescribed medication which he is now taking in prison, he was trying to self-medicate at the time of the offending in November 2023 with cannabis and cocaine. Grand Theft Auto came to mind for the accused at the culmination of his offending. In that game, stars indicate when a dramatic scene is at its most potentially lethal. Mr Konyari believed that it was a case of maximum stars when the member of the Armed Response Unit fired the single shot through his windscreen shortly before 11am on November 8, 2023. He came out with his hands held high. Detective Garda Peter Nolan gave evidence of the extremely dangerous and sometimes bizarre incidents that occurred in the escapade of crime carried out by the accused in a period of three days culminating in the car park of Dwyer's Electrical, Forge Hill, Cork. The accused man confessed to carrying out three burglaries, stealing this truck and previously stealing a van which he used to stash the property he was stealing in various crimes. On that Wednesday morning – November 8 2023 – he had alerted the suspicions of management at Kevin O'Leary's service station in Bandon where he was in and out of the premises without buying anything, until he eventually tried to steal two bags of coal. He threw the coal back when confronted and drove off towards Cork city and struck and damaged a wall before leaving. Gardaí were alerted and various roadblocks were put in place but he kept diverting onto back roads until he ended up driving himself into a cul de sac at Dwyer's car park. That was where he caused damage to three parked cars and deliberately rammed two garda cars. Sergeant Ian Scully was in one and Detective Sergeant Mick Lyons was in another. There were periods during the deliberate ramming when the officers were momentarily trapped in their vehicles. But the defendant persisted in his driving. Det Garda Nolan said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that officers from the Armed Support Unit arrived at the scene and one unnamed officer gave a warning to the defendant to stop driving immediately. Gardaí feared that due to the presence of members of the public on foot and in vehicles, and the refusal of Mr Konyari to stop, there was a real risk of death or serious injury. A single shot was fired through the windscreen of the truck and it was only then that there was an immediate end to the defendant's actions and he stepped out of the truck. Ms McCarthy said the defendant was seriously injured in an assault in 2021. She sais he was carrying out burglaries while living in fear of becoming homeless and was stealing things in the hope that he could sell them. Some items he stole during burglaries included butane gas cylinders, an antique clock, and toilet rolls. He went to the clothes washing machines at a garage and stole the contents of one which included a nurse's uniform and children's clothing. When the owner of these clothes approached him and threatened to report him he returned the clothing to her. Judge Boyle said in summary: 'This involved a spree of offending all the way across West Cork, culminating in a serious incident at Forge Hill and you causing havoc along the way."
Sunday World
28-05-2025
- Sunday World
Four arrested in Josh Itseli gangland murder probe released without charge
Two men, aged in their 20s and 40s, and two women, both aged in their 20s, were arrested in recent weeks Four people arrested by gardai investigating the fatal shooting of Josh Itseli in Dublin last year have been released without charge. Two men, aged in their 20s and 40s, and two women, both aged in their 20s, were arrested in recent weeks. Gardaí said that all four have now been released without charge and files will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions Josh Itseli was shot and killed amid chaotic scenes on Knocknarea Road, Drimnagh on May 6 last year. The death of the 20-year-old on the May bank holiday weekend was the only gangland murder to happen in Ireland last year. On the night of the shooting, Itseli was travelling in a stolen Volkswagen Golf, which was rammed at around 12.15am before a gun was fired up to 20 times. Detectives believe Itseli was killed by one of his own gang by mistake when they lost control of the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Gardai at the scene last May Gardaí believe the victim and his associates, who in addition to carrying the AR-15 were armed with a pipe bomb and wearing body armour, were on the way to bomb the home of rival criminals, believed to be two brothers, in south Dublin. Bullets from the rifle, which appears to have been fired almost indiscriminately, also struck the local community centre, with one entering through a window and striking a table inside. No evidence has been found to suggest that any other weapon was fired or that the rival criminals who rammed the car were armed. Josh Itseli News in 90 Seconds - May 28th The AR-15 was subsequently recovered by gardaí from a hedgerow in the vicinity of the shooting, while Itseli's three criminal associates were arrested by the Armed Response Unit on Slievebloom Road, about a kilometre from the scene. All three were wearing body armour. The chief suspect in the murder was arrested near the scene that night, but was later released from custody. The suspect was granted bail before the murder, despite garda objections. The volatile criminal, who is from Dublin was on bail at the time over a serious attack on a female He later left for the UK before returning to Dublin in August where he was arrested for an unrelated offence. Two other young men were also arrested in the aftermath of the murder and all three were later released without charge. Itseli, who was before the courts accused of dealing cocaine, originally came to Ireland with his family from Congo. During a highly charged and emotional funeral service, a pastor pleaded with his friends not to get involved in crime. He told them: 'We came from Africa in order to look for a good life here … but we don't want to bury you here.' The weapon recovered at the scene The father of Josh, was laid to rest following a two-day vigil by a large group of mourners, also spoke during the ceremony and he lovingly revealed how he called his son JoJo. We later reported how the chief suspect who accidentally shot Itseli may have acquired the AR-15 murder weapon through criminal associates of the Kinahan cartel. The criminal has direct links to a number of older drug dealers aligned with the cartel. The source also said feuding cartel criminals, including a notorious gang operating in Finglas, have in the past been supplied with the same model of rifle. It was a possibility, said the source, the weapon may even have been one used by that gang and then passed on. The origin of the weapon and how it came to be in the possession of a young unsophisticated street gang, was a major source of concern for gardaí in the wake of the shooting. Itseli's gang who acquired the weapon just days before the 20-year-old's death, were clueless as to how to use it, with one asking on social media the night before the killing: 'Anyone know how to use this thing.' It's understood that because of their ignorance in how to handle the weapon, investigators believe it's likely the violent 20-year-old suspected of firing the fatal shot may have accidentally killed his own pal.
The Journal
10-05-2025
- The Journal
Man (24) arrested in Armagh in car stolen from Dublin last week
A MAN WAS arrested by police in the north driving a black BMW that had been reported stolen from Dublin last Sunday. The man was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including dangerous driving, handling stolen goods, driving with no insurance or license, and failing to stop for police. The car was driving on deflated tyres along the M1 at speeds in excess of 80mph (about 130kmh), police reported. Advertisement He was said to have been 'weaving in and out of traffic and even, at times, continuing along the hard shoulder', before eventually being brought to a halt by the Armed Response Unit. The man is now in custody. Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts said: 'Officers were made aware this afternoon, Saturday 10th May, that a black BMW which had been reported stolen from the Dublin area on Sunday, 4th May by our colleagues in An Garda Siochana, was travelling on the A1 outside Jonesborough. 'Specially trained Interceptor officers were able to track the vehicle with the overhead assistance of our Air Support Unit.' One officer received minor injures to his hands when extracting the suspect from the vehicle. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
