Latest news with #GardaHQ
Irish Examiner
15-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Gardaí ask anyone who has information about man murdered in 2009 to come forward
Gardaí are hoping that people who have information about the disappearance and murder of a young man 16 years ago today may now feel they are able to come forward. Paul 'Frank' Byrne was aged 20 when he was last seen in the company of other men near his home in Kilmartin Green, Tallaght, south west Dublin, on July 15, 2009. His remains were discovered just over a year later — on 29 July 2010 — in a wooded area near Blessington, Co Wicklow. The investigation has led to the arrest of five people but has, so far, not resulted in any charges being brought. A statement issued by Garda HQ said: 'Gardaí are renewing their appeal for information in relation to the investigation into the murder of 20-year-old Paul 'Frank' Byrne, whose remains were discovered in a wooded area by a forestry worker near Blessington, Co Wicklow on the 29 July 2010. Wine-coloured Mitsubishi Carisma 'Paul was last seen on the 15 July 2009 at Kilmartin Green in Tallaght, Dublin 24 when it was reported that he left the estate in a 2000-registered wine-coloured Mitsubishi Carisma accompanied by other males. This was the last sighting of Paul Byrne.' It said Mr Byrne was reported missing by his mother at Tallaght Garda Station the following day. The statement said: 'To date, five people have been arrested in connection with this investigation, however no one has been brought to justice for Paul's murder.' It said: 'It is now sixteen years since Paul Byrne was last seen and Gardaí at Blessington Garda Station are renewing their appeal to the public for assistance and information in relation to his disappearance and murder. Paul's family are anxious for the investigation to progress to bring them closure. It made this appeal: 'Gardaí are appealing to those who may have information since 2009, or who may have come into possession of information in the intervening years, to come forward. 'Gardaí are urging individuals, who sixteen years on may want to come forward to do so, especially if relationships or associations have changed over the years. With the passage of time, people may now feel more comfortable sharing information with Gardaí.' It said people will be treated in a sensitive manner.
Irish Examiner
07-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Senior garda used official channel to import gun parts for private club
A senior garda arranged for the importation of firearm parts in an official capacity — but, in fact, he did so on behalf of a private club, the Irish Examiner has learned. The operation to import the parts involved obtaining authorisation from the justice minister of the day on the basis that it was for garda business. The cost of the parts and their insertion into firearms was borne by An Garda Síochána. Importation occurred in 2018 After the firearms were fully repaired, they were brought back to the gun club, located in the east of the country. The senior garda involved does not have any official standing within the gun club. According to an internal garda report, he claimed he was conducting official business by sourcing the firearm parts for training purposes. However, the report determined no weapon of the make and design of the ones at issue are used by An Garda Síochána. Protected disclosure The affair occurred in 2018 and only came to light after a junior garda revealed it as part of a protected disclosure. It was then investigated by a chief superintendent and the main thrust of what the junior garda alleged was found to be factually based. Importing the firearms parts required authorisation from the then justice minister. Importation of such parts is strictly controlled and individual authorisation is always required. The justice minister of the day and officials in the department would take any such request from An Garda Síochána on trust, as they would be highly unlikely to be familiar with the details of the firearm parts being requested. The senior officer became aware the gun club had a problem with a number of firearms. Initial attempts to have them repaired with a firearm dealer were unsuccessful, and the dealer informed the club that the parts were not available in the country. Firearms in boot of garda's private car The internal investigation heard in evidence that the senior garda arrived at Garda HQ from the private gun club with the firearms in the boot of his private car. The investigation found such transport of guns could be permitted under the 1925 Firearms Act if it was for training, as the officer alleged. The investigation also found a notable conflict in the evidence given by the civilians from the gun club and the firearms dealer on one side, and at least two of the gardaí interviewed. There was no recommendation for disciplinary action or to investigate a possible criminal offence in the internal report. Minister learned of issue three months after report The report was completed and circulated within An Garda Síochána in November 2024. In February this year, in response to a parliamentary question from Labour TD Alan Kelly, the minister for justice said he had not been informed about this case under legislation that obliges the commissioner to make contact with the minister on a matter of serious importance. Mr Kelly told the Irish Examiner he is astounded that this matter has not been fully investigated. 'How was this allowed to happen and how has no one been held to account for potential criminal matters?' he said. 'This is an extremely serious matter that the current minister for justice needs to deal with immediately.' The garda press office was contacted for comment. Read More Mick Clifford: This new episode will further shake public trust in An Garda Síochána
Irish Examiner
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Garda-held decommissioned weapons used to catch people trying to import firearms
Gardaí have carried out at least two controlled deliveries of firearms since 2007, in which they used Garda-held decommissioned weapons to catch people trying to import firearms, Garda figures show. In response to queries from the Irish Examiner, Garda HQ detailed two court cases where gardaí substituted illegal firearms with Garda-held weapons that were made safe, in controlled deliveries to suspects who were subsequently convicted of buying weapons. Garda HQ also said the decision to prosecute Evan Fitzgerald with serious firearms offences after a controlled delivery was made following an 'independent evaluation' by the DPP of all the evidence. Labour Party TD Alan Kelly and Senator Michael McDowell, former justice minister and attorney general, have expressed grave concerns at the controlled delivery in the case of Mr Fitzgerald and two co-accused and questioned the arrest and prosecution of a "vulnerable" man. Labour Party TD Alan Kelly expressed grave concern at the controlled delivery in the case of Evan Fitzgerald and two co-accused. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins While on bail, the 22-year-old carried out a public suicide at a Carlow shopping centre on June 1 using a firearm he had stolen. He had caused panic among shoppers, including children, when he fired his shotgun into the air. Gardaí believe he had no intention to harm anyone, but said that firing a loaded gun in public, and having flammable liquid in a bottle which he was trying to light, posed inherent dangers to other people, even if inadvertent or accidental. Mr Kelly alleged that there was a 'domino impact' from the controlled delivery in Mr Fitzgerald taking his own life, while Mr McDowell claimed this outcome could have been avoided if 'diversion rather than entrapment and prosecution' was employed by gardaí against people he described as three 'naive young men'. One of the two other men has pleaded guilty to charges while the third person has yet to enter a plea. In its statement, Garda HQ detailed two firearms and three drug trafficking court cases where controlled deliveries were used by gardaí. Senator Michael McDowell claimed the outcome could have been avoided if 'diversion rather than entrapment and prosecution' was employed by gardaí against people he described as three 'naive young men'. Picture: Sam Boal It said gardaí were not making direct comparisons between the two firearms cases and Mr Fitzgerald and his co-accused. In the two previous cases, the suspects were involved in drug dealing or serious organised crime, whereas gardaí have told the court that Mr Fitzgerald and the co-accused were not involved in organised crime and that the guns were intended for target shooting in the woods. Gardaí told the courts that Mr Fitzgerald had a 'fascination' with firearms. The Garda statement said controlled deliveries are recognised as legitimate operational techniques by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and that Irish courts had accepted their use in at least two convictions. The two cases are: May 12, 2016 — undercover gardaí took the place of a firearms supplier after intelligence showed that Ahmad Ayadi, from Rathfarnham, Dublin, was trying to source firearms illegally. The officers obtained a firearm, that had been made safe, from Garda Ballistics, which Ayadi bought. He pleaded guilty on July 31, 2017; April 20, 2007 — two men were arrested in possession of firearms at the IBIS Hotel at Glanmire, Cork, after a controlled delivery of rocket launchers and weapons, supplied by Garda Ballistics after being made safe, by undercover officers. They pleaded guilty in 2008. The statement said it was up to a coroner to 'independently' determine the circumstances that led to Mr Fitzgerald's death and cited suicide guidelines from the Samaritans that speculation on causes can 'oversimply' an extremely complex issue. On Tuesday, Europol, the EU police agency, raised concerns at a growing trend of young men, including juveniles, who have 'personal struggles' or mental health issues and a 'fascination for weapons and explosives'. Read More The events leading to Evan Fitzgerald's death deserve proper scrutiny
The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Two people, 30s, arrested after alleged false imprisonment of woman in Kildare as garda probe ‘ongoing' & pair quizzed
A MAN and a woman, both aged in their 30s, have been arrested following the alleged false imprisonment of a woman in Co Kildare yesterday. Advertisement Garda HQ confirmed that, following patrols carried out by officers from The arrested woman and man are being quizzed by investigating gardai at a Garda Station in the eastern region of the country. The pair are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. The scene has been preserved for technical examination and gardai have urged anyone who may have any information to come forward and assist in their investigation. Advertisement READ MORE IRISH NEWS In a statement this afternoon, Gardai said their investigation is "ongoing". A spokesperson for the force said: "Gardai are investigating an alleged incident of false imprisonment of a woman which occurred in Castletown, Celbridge, Co. Kildare yesterday, Monday 23rd June 2025. "The incident occurred at approximately 10.10pm. "Following patrols carried out by Gardai from Kildare North Community Engagement and DMR South Crime Tallaght, two individuals were arrested in Tallaght, Dublin 24 in relation to this incident within 90 minutes of Gardai first being alerted. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Latest "A woman and a man, both aged in their 30s, are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the eastern region. "The scene has been preserved for technical examination." The spokesperson added: "Gardai are appealing to any witnesses to this incident to come forward. "Anyone with any information is asked to contact Leixlip Garda Station on (01) 6667800, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Advertisement "This investigation is ongoing." 1 Gardai attended the scene of the incident Credit: Garrett White - The Sun Dublin
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Gardaí putting 'significant amount' of evidence to suspect in Annie McCarrick case
Gardaí are putting a 'significant amount' of information and evidence to a man arrested in connection with the murder of American woman Annie McCarrick more than 30 years ago. Officers are also waiting to see if a search of a house where the man once stayed turns up anything of value that they need to question him about. Sources are urging people not to raise expectations of a significant breakthrough in the investigation and to let developments take their course. The suspect is the first man arrested in relation to the disappearance of Ms McCarrick on March 26, 1993, and her subsequent murder. She was last seen in Sandymount, in south-east Dublin city, by her flatmates and was reported missing two days later. A suspect, aged in his 60s, was arrested by gardaí on Thursday morning while, simultaneously, a house in Clondalkin, west Dublin, was cordoned off for a detailed search. Gardai at a house on Monastery Walk, Clondalkin, on Thursday afternoon, where they are conducting a search in relation to the death of missing American woman, Annie McCarrick, who disappeared in 1993. The current owners of the property are under no suspicion of any wrongdoing. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins The suspect is thought to have stayed at the house at some stage in the past. It is understood the search was conducted on the basis of 'new information' received by gardaí. Sources urged people not to 'raise expectations' that the search would unearth evidence. Gardaí stressed the current occupants of the home have no connection with the case. Detectives will examine statements made by the suspect. It is understood the investigators have a 'significant amount' of material and evidence to put to the man. His detention period is for a maximum of 24 hours, excluding sleep breaks, by which stage he has to be either charged or released from custody. Investigation upgraded to murder probe What was a missing person's investigation for more than 30 years was upgraded to a murder investigation two years ago. Gardaí identified two men of interest since then and have been conducting extensive inquiries, including interviewing both of them. One of the men is thought to be living abroad and believed to be unwell. It is understood he did not provide anything of value to investigators. The other brother was arrested on Thursday. A statement from Garda HQ confirmed that a man in his 60s had been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Ms McCarrick and held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. In relation to the search in Clondalkin, it said: 'Elements of that house and garden will be searched and subject of both technical and forensic examinations.' It said the arrest and search operation was led by an investigation team from the DMR South Central Division, Serious Crime Unit, based at Irishtown Garda Station, assisted by the Serious Crime Review Team at the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The search was out by the DMR South Central divisional search team supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau.
