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Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots drug smugglers snared in £26million cocaine sting as police & navy swoop on gang off Irish Coast
COASTAL CRACKDOWN Scots drug smugglers snared in £26million cocaine sting as police & navy swoop on gang off Irish Coast TWO Scots have been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle £26million worth of cocaine into the UK via Ireland. A massive haul was snatched off the southwest coast after armed gardai intervened in Courtmacsherry, Cork. Advertisement 5 They were arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle £26m worth of cocaine into Ireland Credit: Getty 5 A joint task force led by the Garda Síochána monitored a number of men and vehicles for over 24 hours in the run-up to the seizure Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin 5 The Irish Navy were involved in the operation Credit: Andy Gibson - The Sun Dublin 5 The dramatic operation in the early hours of this morning came off the back of intelligence received by Gardai (ARCHIVE IMAGE) Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin 5 The seizure is the largest since the €157million nabbed on board the MV Matthew in September 2023 (ARCHIVE IMAGE) Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin Detectives are probing if the drugs had come from South America and suspect that Ireland was being used as "a gateway" to send the shipment on to England. Four men have been taken into custody - including the two Scots, and suspects from England and Germany. Two were initially nicked as cops swooped in and The Irish Navy caught two other members of the gang. A source told The Irish Sun: "It was a hugely successful operation by Gardai and their partners and should serve as a major warning for international drug gangs targeting the Irish coastline." Advertisement The seizure is the largest since the €157million nabbed on board the MV Matthew in September 2023, with eight of its crew set to be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court later this week. The dramatic operation in the early hours of this morning came off the back of intelligence received by Gardai. A joint task force led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau - which included Revenue, the Irish Naval Service and local cops - had monitored a number of men and vehicles for over 24 hours in the run-up to the seizure. The coke was brought ashore just after 4am yesterday and packed into a van off Broadstrand. Advertisement When Gardai looking on saw enough, the Emergency Response Unit intervened and stopped the van with their guns drawn. Two men - thought to be from Scotland and Germany - were taken from the vehicle as cops recovered the cocaine. York's Hidden Crisis: County Lines, Gangs, and the Fight for the City's Youth The Irish Naval ship L.E. William Butler Yeats - on patrol in the area as part of the op - responded, supported by a Maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps, who also provided overhead surveillance during the operation. Two Naval Service rigid-hulled inflatable boats, carrying armed members from the Maritime Interdiction Team, were launched from the L.E. William Butler Yeats and intercepted the suspect boat off the coast of Cork. Advertisement These two suspects - one from Scotland and the other from England - were later caught and handed over to Gardai. A source said: "Gardai suspect these individuals were part of a UK organised crime gang. "At this stage, it appears the drugs were destined for the UK market and Ireland was being used as a gateway. "Clearly a lot of planning had gone into this and work is underway to establish who else was involved." Advertisement The four suspects - all aged in their 30s and 40s - have been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and could be hit with a variety of charges under gangland legislation. They can be held for a week before being either charged or released, with detectives now liaising with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardai are working closely with Interpol and colleagues in the UK as part of their efforts to establish the suspects' backgrounds. Investigators are also probing if Irish criminal gangs who provide certain logistical and transport support to other known criminal networks were involved. Advertisement Gardai also believe the drugs were initially collected by a mother ship, but it has yet to be located. In recent weeks, senior Gardai in Cork have held briefings to discuss the threat posed by transnational drugs gangs over the summer months. Although Europe's traditional drug networks have previously used the summer to transport shipments of cocaine across the Atlantic, they have also arranged shipments in late autumn and spring. A source said: "The international gangs seem to be more brazen and their shipments are happening all year round now. Advertisement "They have vessels that can be used in adverse weather conditions. "They also have access to RIBs that are faster than some of those used by the Irish Naval Service." West Cork Fine Gael Senator Noel O'Donovan and ex-member of An Garda Siochana commended the work of local and national units of the force, as well as the Naval Service and Air Corps. He said: "Early indications say this operation was under surveillance for the last number of days, so that is a testament to all involved for their professionalism and success in combating the importation of drugs and its further transportation. Advertisement "This is a significant detection ? the biggest drug bust in Ireland this year. "In West Cork, we are well aware how narcotics can be smuggled into this country and the continent. "All involved in this operation - An Garda Siochana, Naval Service, Air Corps - have worked extremely well together and shown their capabilities in taking on criminal gangs and international smugglers." O'Donovan added: "This capture highlights again the increased need for further Garda resources in West Cork - more Gardai patrolling our rural areas prevents and deters criminal activity. And, indeed, further investment in our Naval Service and Air Corps to continue this good work and combat criminality. Advertisement "I will be working with all, including Tanaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris, to progress this." Meanwhile, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan also hailed yesterday's op. He said: "Another major cocaine seizure worth up to €31million by Gardai this morning. Excellent co-operation involving Gardai, Defence Forces and Revenue, Praise ... O'Callaghan and another example of our work to disrupt the criminal gangs involved." Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris posted on X: "I have been briefed by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces on today's significant joint-agency operation." Advertisement He added: "I want to commend members of An Garda Siochana, Defence Forces, Naval Service and Revenue for their close collaboration in securing such a successful outcome."
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Brazen' gang's €31m cocaine smuggling op ‘targeting Irish coastline' smashed with 4 lifted as ‘gateway' theory emerges
GARDAI smashed a Brit-led gang's attempts to smuggle €31million worth of cocaine through Ireland today. The massive haul was snatched off the southwest coast after armed gardai intervened in Courtmacsherry, 4 It's the largest seizure since the €157m nabbed on the MV Matthew in September 2023 Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin 4 The cocaine was brought ashore just after 4am this morning Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 The Emergency Response Unit intervened and stopped the van with their guns drawn Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin Detectives are probing if the drugs had come from The Irish Navy caught two other members of the A source told The Irish Sun: 'It was a hugely successful operation by gardai and their partners and should serve as a major warning for international The seizure is the largest since the €157million nabbed on board the MV Matthew in September 2023, with eight of its crew set to be sentenced at the Special Criminal READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS The dramatic operation in the early hours of this morning came off the back of intelligence received by A joint task force led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau — which included Revenue, the Irish Naval Service and local cops — had monitored a number of men and vehicles for over 24 hours in the run-up to the seizure. The coke was brought ashore just after 4am this morning and packed into a van off Broadstrand. When gardai looking on saw enough, the Emergency Response Unit intervened and stopped the van with their guns drawn. Most read in Irish News Two men from the UK and At the same time, two men who were on the RIB fled as the Naval Service gave chase. SUSPECT BOAT INTERCEPTED The Irish Naval ship L.E. William Butler Yeats — on patrol in the area as part of the op — responded, supported by a Maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps, who also provided overhead surveillance during the operation. Two Naval Service rigid-hulled inflatable boats, carrying armed members from the Maritime Interdiction Team, were launched from the L.E. William Butler Yeats and intercepted the suspect boat off the coast of Cork. These two suspects — one from A source said: 'Gardai suspect these individuals were part of a UK organised 'At this stage it appears the drugs were destined for the 'Clearly a lot of planning had gone into this and work is underway to establish who else was involved, aside from the arrested men.' The four suspects — all aged in their 30s and 40s — have been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and could be hit with a variety of charges under gangland legislation. They can be held for a week before being either charged or released, with detectives liaising with the Director of Public Prosecutions. COPS' PROBES Gardai are working closely with Interpol and colleagues in the UK as part of their efforts to establish the suspects' backgrounds. Investigators are also probing if Irish criminal gangs who provide certain logistical and transport support to other known criminal networks were involved. The four men in custody are said to be vital cogs in the wheel in this particular operation but lower down the chain of command. Two are suspected of collecting the drug shipment and bringing it to shore while the other two were there to collect it. Gardai also believe the drugs were initially collected by a mother ship, but it has yet to be located. In recent weeks, senior Gardai in Cork have held briefings to discuss the threat posed by transnational drugs gangs over the summer months. Although GANGS MORE 'BRAZEN' A source said: 'The international gangs seem to be more brazen and their shipments are happening all year round now. 'They have vessels that can be used in adverse weather conditions. 'They also have access to RIBs that are faster than some of those used by the Irish Naval Service.' West Cork He said: 'Early indications say this operation was under surveillance for the last number of days so that is a testament to all involved for their professionalism and success in combating the importation of drugs and its further transportation. 'This is a significant detection — the biggest drug bust in Ireland this year. 'In West Cork, we are well aware how narcotics can be smuggled into this country and the continent. 'All involved in this operation — An Garda Siochana, Naval Service, Air Corps — have worked extremely well together and shown their capabilities in taking on criminal gangs and international smugglers.' INCREASED NEED FOR RESOURCES O'Donovan added: 'This capture highlights again the increased need for further Garda resources in West Cork — more Gardai patrolling our rural areas prevents and deters criminal activity. 'And indeed further investment in our Naval Service and Air Corp to continue this good work and combat criminality. 'I will be working with all, including Tanaiste and Defence Minister Meanwhile, He said: 'Another major cocaine seizure worth up to €31million by gardai this morning. Excellent co-operation involving Gardai, Defence Forces and Revenue, and another example of our work to disrupt the criminal gangs involved.' Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris posted on He added: 'I want to commend members of An Garda Siochana, Defence Forces, Naval Service and Revenue for their close collaboration in securing such a successful outcome.' 4 Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved
The Irish Sun
07-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Lucky Irish Lotto punter bags huge six-figure sum but narrowly misses out on €6m jackpot as winning numbers revealed
A LUCKY Irish Lotto punter is celebrating tonight after a huge six-figure win - but the eye-watering €6.5m jackpot has gone unclaimed again. In total, over 97,000 players won Advertisement And one player is sure to be celebrating tonight, after winning a whopping €259,089. The huge jackpot in the main The numbers in tonight's draw were: 5, 7, 22, 23, 36 and 47. The bonus number drawn was 19. Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY One player managed to match five numbers along with the bonus, winning a handsome €259,089. There was no winner of the top prize in the Lotto Plus 1 draw either, which sits at €1,000,000. The numbers drawn in this draw were: 5, 6, 16, 25, 28 and 36. The bonus number was 31. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN And the top prize of €250,000 in the Lotto Plus 2 draw also went unclaimed tonight. Penneys 'Lotto Lovelies' collect huge cheque at National Lottery HQ The numbers pulled in this draw were: 3, 8, 14, 30, 34 and 35. The bonus number was 6. And the winning raffle number tonight was 7500. Advertisement There were 86 winners of the Raffle Prize, with each receiving €500. Elsewhere, players in one county are being urged to check their tickets as a Bosses at are appealing to players in Dublin to check their Daily Million Plus tickets. One player managed to bag a huge prize of €500,000 in the Daily Million Plus draw held at 2pm on Friday, March 28. Advertisement The winning ticket is held by someone in the Stillorgan area of South DEADLINE APPROACHING The winning Quick Pick ticket was bought at The winning Daily Million Plus numbers from that draw were: 17, 22, 23, 25, 30, 37. The bonus number pulled was 32. Advertisement All winners have 90 days to claim their prize from the date of the draw. This means that the Dublin winner has until the close of business on Thursday, June 26 - only three weeks away. 1 The jackpot went unclaimed again Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin Advertisement
Extra.ie
19-05-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Rents rising at the fastest pace since records began
Rents are rising at their fastest pace since records began, according to the latest report from property market website They were up by an average of 3.4% in the first three months of the year, 'one of the largest three-month increases in the last two decades', the report says. The average 'open-market rent' nationwide in the first three months of the year was €2,023 per month, up almost €200 from a year ago. It is also nearly three times as high as the report low of €765 in 2011. Pic: Crispin Rodwell/Bloomberg via Getty Images Rents are also 48% higher than before the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. In the year to March, market rents rose by 5.8% in Dublin and by 8.6% elsewhere, the smallest gap in inflation rates in two years. After a period of subdued pressure on rents in Dublin, due to a large volume of new rental housing coming on the market, inflation in the capital is converging with price rises elsewhere. The sharpest rise was in Limerick city, up more than 20% to €2,405. In Waterford, market rents in March were up 9.9% year-on-year, while in Cork and Galway cities, they were up 13.6% and 12.6% respectively. Pic: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Outside the big cities, rent in Leinster and Connacht-Ulster is up just over 5%, while rents in Munster were 11.5% higher. There were just more than 2,300 homes available to rent nationwide on May 1, down 14%. This is the third lowest total for May in 20 years and close to half the 2015 to 2019 average for availability of homes to rent. Trinity College Dublin economics professor Ronan Lyons, author of the report, pointed out that the average open-market rent nationwide exceeds €2,000 a month for the first time, up from less than €1,400 just five years ago. Pic: Leah Farrell/ Mr Lyons added: 'The sustained increases in rents in the open market are being driven by an acute and worsening shortage of rental housing. 'Unfortunately, changes made to rent controls in 2021 dramatically reduced the ability of Ireland's rental sector to attract the capital needed for new supply, the ultimate remedy for the shortage. 'The opportunity exists for the Government to reform those controls and facilitate the emergence of a new pipeline of rental homes. Nonetheless, further supports will be needed to encourage new rental supply outside of the Greater Dublin Area.' Pic: Shutterstock He added: 'The irony is that the last Government scrapped pro-supply policies just as they were beginning to show their effects – with market rents in Dublin largely static in 2023, due to lots of new completions, even as rents surged in other cities. 'Instead, policy relied on increases in direct funding, rather than channelling others' savings, to try to keep completions up. 'The results have been predictable, if very disheartening. Having risen by almost 7% in 2023, the national average dragged down by Dublin's new supply, market rents rose by a further 6% in 2024. Pic: Getty Images 'That's 13 straight years, since 2011, of rising rents.' Countrywide, market rents rose by an average of 3.4% between December and March. This is the joint-second largest increase in market rents (after 2022 Q3) on record, in a series of records that goes back 19 years. Prof Lyons added: 'The national rate of inflation in market rents – at 4.9% – is at its lowest rate in three years and down dramatically from the 14.1% that had been recorded in mid-2022. Pic: Getty Images 'Meanwhile, the availability of homes to rent in Dublin had almost doubled, year-on-year, in late 2023. 'On October 1 last, there were almost 1,500 homes available to rent in the capital compared to just 800 on the same date a year previously. 'Since then, the availability of rental homes in Dublin has fallen, rather than risen, although at least some of that is seasonal. There were just over 1,200 homes available to rent in Dublin on May 1, up only 4% year-on-year. 'This represents the good news. But even then, the good news is not about rents becoming more affordable, after a decade of almost uninterrupted growth. 'Rather it is about rents increasing at a slower rate than in recent years. For more rents to become more affordable, there needs to be a greater supply relative to demand. But while demand has grown, supply remains very tight. 'This is true even in Dublin, where, according to the analysis in this report, over 125 purpose-built rental developments [that have been] opened since 2016 have added over 10,000 new rental homes,' Prof Lyons concluded.
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Urgent warning to Scots after ‘extremely contagious' outbreak
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOTTISH health board has issued an urgent warning following an "extremely contagious" outbreak. NHS Borders has urged people not to visit loved ones in hospital amid an increase in the number of patients with norovirus. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The health board is experiencing significant pressure with long waits for admission to the Borders General Hospital Credit: Crispin Rodwell 3 Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea Credit: Getty The illness is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. In a statement, the health board said it is experiencing "significant pressure across the healthcare system with long waits for admission to the Borders General Hospital." Anyone feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms of infection is being urged to not visit family or friends in healthcare settings. This can help prevent the spread of illnesses to vulnerable patients who are more susceptible to tummy bugs and other common illnesses which visitors can unknowingly pass on. Hand hygiene is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family and friends from infections. When you are attending hospitals or health centres, wash your hands with soap and water or use the hand gel dispensers available on entering and leaving the building, and individual wards and departments. Sarah Horan, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals, said: "Norovirus is circulating in our communities. We know how much it means to visit loved ones in hospital, but we must do everything we can to reduce the spread of illnesses. "What feels like a minor stomach bug or cold to you could have serious consequences if passed on to someone who is already unwell. "It is therefore essential that everyone plays their part in preventing the spread of these infections. "One of the simplest ways of protecting yourself and your loved ones is by regularly washing your hands with warm water and soap. What are the norovirus symptoms and how long does the winter vomiting bug last? "Hand sanitiser is conveniently placed around healthcare settings, so when you see it, please use it, especially if soap and water is not immediately available. "By staying home if you are feeling ill and practising good hand hygiene when visiting healthcare settings, you are playing a vital role in keeping our patients, staff and wider communities safe." Norovirus symptoms Norovirus, also called the winter vomiting bug, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually gets better in about 2 days. Symptoms of norovirus The main symptoms of norovirus usually start suddenly and may include: feeling sick being sick (vomiting) diarrhoea You may also have: a high temperature a headache tummy pain body aches and pains Although it's sometimes called the winter vomiting bug, you can get norovirus at any time of year. Source: NHS
