18 sv1 The Irish Mail on Sunday OCTOBER 8 • 2017 I’m too scared to show my face,

WRECKED LIFE: Pensioner they might John Byrne thought he was going come back to die and kill me Locals living in terror… but when will their Garda station reopen?

By Debbie McCann CRIME CORRESPONDENT ‘The robbers are back down the M9 before you get a response. It’s a joke’ PENSIONER John Byrne tenta- tively agrees to a silhouette pic- CARLOW M9 SINCE their garda station shut its an incident in Myshall, but you need ture. The frail and nervous GARDA STATION 12km AWAY door four years ago the people of them in Leighlinbridge. 68-year-old had his life turned AND 15 MINUTE DRIVE Leighlinbridge have been forced to rely ‘If our station does open, we need gardaí upside down when three men burst on a part-time station in Bagenalstown, to police it.’ into his home as he was getting 5km in the opposite direction to the He added: ‘Carlow is further down the ready for bed. The event is on his M9 TULLOW motorway locals fear is being used by motorway but, if an incident happens mind ‘constantly’ and he ‘shakes’ GARDA STATION 20km AWAY travelling criminals; Carlow Garda Station, here, they respond here. If they were to with fear when he recalls their AND 20 MINUTE DRIVE more than 12km away cross county, and cut someone off on the motorway, you’d threats to come back and ‘kill him’ M9 Tullow, over 20km away. have to be able to supply them with the if he lied about having no money. The closest station is six minutes away details they need, like car type and The retired council worker had M9 by car. Carlow and Tullow are 15 minutes registration number.’ been quietly enjoying his retire- and 20 minutes away respectively. A retired garda told how he remembers ment in rural Co. Carlow, after over One man who works in a shop said he a time when there was a sergeant and 40 years working in a meat factory rings Bagenalstown first and, if that fails, three gardaí stationed in Leighlinbridge. and later in the county council. LEIGHLINBRIDGE is transferred to either Carlow or Tullow. ‘I was stationed in it. It is a real shame it That was until eight months ago GARDA STATION CLOSED 2013 ‘Sure the lads who did the robbing are is closed. We are supposed to work in the when the men burst into his iso- down the motorway before you get a community. ’ Another local added that the lated home by prising open his response. It’s a joke,’ he said. only garda they see in Leighlinbridge is a back window with a screwdriver. THE DISTANCE AND Another man told how Bagenalstown young garda who lives in the town but is They shoved him into his bathroom BAGENALSTOWN covers an area that extends as far as stationed elsewhere. and locked the door. There he GARDA STATION 5km AWAY TIME TO TRAVEL TO Myshall – 20km from Leighlinbridge. ‘The only time we see a garda round LEIGHLINBRIDGE ‘Even when you do get through there, here is when she is dropping her children the one car they have could be covering to school.’ ‘I was too afraid to live in They told me they would be back – incident, was struck on the head tions closed around the country – has politics involved in reopening my house any more’ that frightened me worse. I am a with either a hammer or an imita- been named in an interim Garda Garda stations but feels strongly nervous sort of a lad anyway, so tion firearm. He told the MoS he report recommending its reopen- about Leighlinbridge. He told the this really knocked me. I had a dog was ‘lucky to be alive’ after two ing because of an increase in popu- MoS he has not seen a Garda in the stayed for more than nine and a but I had to give him away. This raiders burst in with a hammer and lation, its proximity to the M9 and town since the station closed in half hours, ‘sure’ they would carry place wouldn’t have suited him. I a gun. Agreeing that the motorway vulnerability to mobile criminals. 2013 and that seeing it reopened out their threat to kill him. was very sorry to say goodbye.’ has resulted in some of the crime in Also named in the report was would give him ‘peace of mind’. Soon after, Mr Byrne fled his Mr Byrne decided to tell his story the area, he said he is ‘lucky to be Stepaside in south Dublin – the ‘We’d all love to see it open,’ home and sought refuge in a care in the hope it will put pressure on alive’ after his ordeals. constituency of Transport Minister agreed Mr O’Connor. home. He now has a panic button the Government to reopen his local ‘The first guy sentenced for raid- Shane Ross – which the Government Other locals, while hopeful, strapped to his wrist. ‘They Garda station at Leighlinbridge. ing my shop got a total of seven reopened head of the other stations couldn’t help being sceptical. destroyed my life. I think about it Another man who wants the sta- years,’ he added, ‘but the sentences named in the report. These include ‘Will the station ever open?’ asked every minute of every day,’ he told tion reopened is Art O’Connor, who were to run concurrently and he Leighlinbridge, Donard in one man, who didn’t want to be the Irish Mail on Sunday. runs the local post office. He was was out in a year. It’s a joke.’ Co. Wicklow and Rush in north named. ‘I’m not so sure – we don’t ‘I lived in that house for 40 years robbed three times in two months Leighlinbridge Garda Station – Dublin. have a TD in the town.’ but I couldn’t live there any more. last year and, in one horrifying which is among more than 130 sta- John Byrne knows little about the [email protected] Bankrupt Seán Dunne living with wife Gayle, argues official THE official handling bust developer Seán By If the bid to have Dunne’s bankruptcy He swore that Gayle Dunne’s solicitors Dunne’s bankruptcy in Ireland believes that Valerie Hanley extended by the maximum amount of time provided him with a handwritten note, the father of seven and his ‘estranged’ possible succeeds, it will mean that the indicating her address. Mr Lehane added: second wife, Gayle Dunne, are living in the possible because he believes that Mr Dunne Carlow-born developer will be 67 before he ‘The note purported to include the address same £5m exclusive mansion in the UK. has ‘knowingly given an incorrect address’ is able to make a fresh financial start. of the bankrupt’ (Seán Dunne). When the case comes before the court and failed to co-operate with him. In his affidavit, Mr Lehane states: ‘I In May, the Irish Mail on Sunday revealed tomorrow, Official Assignee Christopher These claims are in an affidavit sworn by believe that his current address is in the that she was living in a mansion set in more Lehane will apply to have the 63-year-old’s Mr Lehane on September 18 and are UK, despite the fact that his affidavit than three acres of wooded gardens in the bankruptcy extended by the maximum time publicly available on the bankruptcy file. claims he still lives in New York.’ English stockbroker belt of Surrey. NOVEMBER 19 • 2017 The Irish Mail on Sunday 19 Karl Bond’s life was threatened, his wife assaulted, the mother of his grandchildren attacked and his two dogs poisoned. He watches TV with two knives beside him. In the war against rural crime, he says… IT’S KILL OR BE KILLED

sergeant and five gardaí in the house. When I realised it wasn’t my Ferbane Garda Station. There was a brother’s grandson, I turned around sergeant and garda in Ballinahown. and they boys were gone. They had There was a sergeant and five ransacked the house. Our closest garda station is an gardaí in Banagher. There was a ‘They were never caught but the sergeant and two gardaí in Cloghan, gardaí have an idea who they are. and Shannonbridge had a sergeant They supposedly live in Clondalkin. and a garda. Now Shannonbridge is ‘They were driving a grey Mazda hour’s drive away in Cavan town closed. Ballinahown is closed and with a false number plate. there is a sergeant and one garda ‘The same car appeared up around THE decision to close a By Debbie McCann Blacklion is Cavan operating in Ferbane. Banagher has Ferbane days later with a different west Cavan garda town and they can’t go number plate. station at night has on mobile patrol in west north. Some of the ‘It happens when people are gone caused outrage. Cavan during night mountainous areas on to Mass or a funeral. There has to Locals in Blacklion, time hours, but some the way is totally ‘Over 300 people turned be a local information centre for Co. Cavan – where locals do not feel this is inaccessible during these guys.’ Neven Maguire’s enough. winter. ’ up with stories to tell’ ‘Charlie Flanagan will tell you MacNean House & Garry McKiernan, of Another local said the there are 800 new gardaí but what Restaurant is situated – the West Cavan decision to close his he doesn’t appear to know is that say their nearest Concerned Residents’ garda station was a sergeant and two gardaí. We came every garda over 50 can go station is now an hour’s Group, told the Irish political. ‘To know that through a recession in the 1980s tomorrow. And they are so fed up drive away in Cavan Mail on Sunday that there was a garda there and I cannot understand why gardaí with the rules and regulations that town. Garda response times at all times was a great are being scapegoated.’ they are going. They are nearly Ballyconnell Garda are further hindered by peace of mind,’ he said. Mr Ryan described how his being pushed out. Gardaí are Station would have the fact gardaí cannot Mr McKiernan said if brother’s home was raided and that majorly p***ed off. Morale is low. been closer by at least cross the border and a crime is committed in he saw the burglars leave. ‘We were to meet with [Justice 20 minutes, but a instead have to travel his area, criminals can ‘My brother left his house one Minister] Charlie Flanagan this decision was made to on this side of the be over the border in morning at 10.53. I drove by his week but he postponed the meeting. close it between the border. two minutes. ‘It’s mad house 27 minutes later and there We are still looking to meet him.’ hours of 9pm and 9am. ‘The closest one to leave it wide open,’ NEVEN: His restaurant were three lads walking out of his [email protected] Gardaí will instead be [station] at night to he added. in Blacklion is affected 18 The Irish Mail on Sunday NOVEMBER 19 • 2017 Karl Bond’s life was threatened, his wife assaulted, the mother of his grandchildren attacked and his two dogs poisoned. He watches TV with two knives beside him. In the war against rural crime, he says…

TARGET: Karl Bond with the hurley he keeps beside his front door IT’S KILL OR BE KILLED

HEN Karl Bond ered in the town. They were armed moved to Ban- with knives and swinging chains. agher, Co. Offaly, SPECIAL Mr Bond said the situation had in the mid-1970s, rapidly escalated and he was nobody locked REPORT concerned that the gang was after their doors. his family. Today he carries ‘We rang the gardaí. People were aW pick axe handle in the boot of his By DEBBIE arrested for public disorder that car and leaves a hurley by his front night but they had disposed of their door for protection. weapons. In recent times, Mr Bond – who McCANN ‘We had five matches in the field runs the Banagher United football on the Saturday morning after club and is retired from the ESB – CRIME CORRESPONDENT Halloween and when I came home has been subjected to a reign of we decided to go down for a meal terror in his community. with my youngest son, who was His life has been threat- farmer Richie McKelvey. The week home from university in Galway. ened, his wife has been before the McKelvey incident, some ‘I don’t know what came into my assaulted, the mother of 300 people also gathered in Cloghan, head but I turned back and saw the his grandchildren attacked following a spike in burglaries. two dogs dead in the yard, poisoned. and his two dogs poisoned. ‘The volume of people says it all. I In hindsight, I remember the dogs’ ‘It all began in the early couldn’t get over the stories I was food hadn’t been eaten and they had hours of Halloween morning. I hearing. My family is certainly not been drinking a lot of water. awoke to discover five or six people alone in this. The stories that came ‘One of the dogs survived because on my property. I ran at them but out that night were shocking.’ he had a kidney infection and was was threatened. My wife and her Mr Bond explained his own indoors are the time. He was lucky sister told them they would call the situation, which has escalated over but he is obviously missing the gardaí but another youth ran at me the last three weeks. other two.’ and told me he would kill me.’ ‘The first incident happened in the Mr Bond told the MoS he now The threat, he said, comes not just early hours of Halloween morning. travels around his local community from burglary gangs using the with a pick-axe handle in the boot of motorway to make good their my car. escape but also from people who ‘The gardaí need more resources. moved into areas from bigger towns ‘Five or six youths armed Technically, there are four gardaí in and cites in recent times. He Banagher but they spend most of believes these people are causing with knives and chains’ their time in Birr. havoc in rural communities and are ‘We had an incident where an old also helping motorway gangs by man banged on the wall of his house feeding them local information. I awoke to find five or six people on to tell his neighbours – a family not Relatives of the notorious Dundon my property. I let out a roar and told from the area – to quieten down. family are living in a townland in them to get out. There were 15 or 20 Two men burst in on him and he the middle of the county, while asso- more people outside my gate. Most drew a hot poker stick on them. ciates of other Limerick and Dublin were from outside the town; others ‘You can see what is going on in criminal gangs have also moved were from the area. the midlands. At the moment if we into the area. Mr Bond feels they ‘Somebody came running at me are not going to be protected it is have turned what was once a peace- and I stood my ground, protecting either kill or be killed. ful community into one that is sleep- my home. Somebody grabbed him ‘I asked one of the gardaí what ing with one eye open. before he got to me. He started was on the table beside my Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sun- shouting that he was going to armchair and she said, “two knives”. day this week, Mr Bond told how he kill me.’ That’s how I am sitting watching called a meeting to discuss the The night after Halloween, Mr my television. I then pointed at the effects of burglaries and anti-social Bond’s wife and his son’s girlfriend door to where the hurl is left. behaviour in his town. ‘Over 300 were attacked as they made their ‘Not long ago in Banagher, people people turned up, all with stories to way home. didn’t lock up. You just arrived and tell. I was astounded.’ ‘They were shoved. My wife has a walked in the back door. That’s how The meeting was held the same mark on her arm where she fell into this town was.’ night as one in nearby Coolderry, the wall; my son’s girlfriend was Ger Ryan, from nearby Cloghan, attended by 200 people, to discuss grabbed by the hair.’ also called a local meeting because the impact of crime following the On the Thursday after Halloween, of the fear in his community. ‘I am horrific burglary and beating of a gang of five or six youths gath- 50 now. When I was 15 there was a Facebook checkpoint Crisis as more homes hit Keep an eye on friends updates tip off gangs TWO homes within a two-mile with new Cairde app radius of where a farmer was By Debbie McCann BURGLARY gangs are By Debbie McCann burgled and savagely beaten A NEW app to help rural By Debbie McCann using popular Facebook earlier this month, were to take anything in both communities combat fear pages that upload broken into on the night his instances. Commenting on and isolation by staying checkpoint locations around meeting in Cloghan, Co community gathered to the recent crimes, Sinn Féin constantly connected was communicate effectively. It the country before setting Offaly, told the MoS: discuss the damaging effect TD Carol Nolan called for launched last month. can link with other smart out to raid rural homes ‘The young people don’t of rural crime, the Irish Mail ‘extra gardaí in Offaly where Cairde is a service devices such as doorbell along the motorway realise they are tipping off on Sunday has learned. the whole situation has launched by Muintir na Tíre monitors and smart plugs. A network, the Irish Mail on these gangs.’ One of the of the attempted reached crisis point’. and allows people to very practical use could be Sunday has learned. Fine Gael TD Marcella burglaries happened in She added: ‘We cannot communicate and keep an analysing the usage of a The pages, liked by Corcoran Kennedy shared Sharavogue and the other in have a situation where eye on friends and kettle on a smart plug – if hundreds of thousands of similar concerns. Fortal, both within a short someone is murdered. There neighbours through the use the kettle is not used at the people, give live updates of ‘People think they are distance of where Richie are reports that farmers are of technology. normal time on a day, an checkpoint locations, being helpful pointing out McKelvey was attacked in bringing loaded shotguns Niall Garvey, CEO of alert can be issued to the allowing criminal gangs to Garda checkpoints on Coolderry, Co. Offaly. into their bedrooms at night. Muintir na Tíre, said: ‘Cairde person’s Cairde.’ avoid these areas with ease. Facebook,’ she said, ‘but The burglars were forced to There is the concern that this is a service that enables The app will be rolled out Ger Ryan, who organised burglars are seeing it, flee before they had a chance is going to escalate.’ communities and individuals in communities over the a recent rural crime which is of huge concern.’ within the communities to coming months. DECEMBER 3 • 2017 The Irish Mail on Sunday 27 In 2015 victims of rural crime warned the nearby M7 made them targets. Nothing happened, now armed robberies are the norm Direct link Terror of the between fewer gardaí and higher Ann Martyn’s store was ram raided and a woman motorway was held at gunpoint in the post office RAM RAID crime rates RIME has increased significantly in one in six Garda divisions By CRAIG where Garda numbers have been reduced, the HUGHES Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal. In a week in which the marauders GardaC overtime budget ran dry, our analysis of official crime and 11 respectively. statistics and Garda numbers In the Laois division, reveals a direct correlation suffered the greatest loss with its between staff cuts and crime gardaí reduced by five. At the levels across the country. same time it experienced an The period from 2011 to 2016 increase in six different types of shows the towns of Ennis, Fermoy, crime including robberies, Gorey and Roscommon have been assaults, drugs and weapons worst affected, with crime offences. increasing in eight of the 11 In all, 12 stations in the division categories examined on the back saw their Garda numbers of cuts to Garda numbers. reduced, 10 stayed the same. A The categories include; assaults, number of these areas saw Ellen O’Connor and shop owner Sinéad Kinsella robbery and extortion, dangerous increases in burglaries and FEARFUL whose grocery and post office has been held up acts, burglary, theft, fraud, drugs, robberies. However, three stations weapons, damage to property/ in the county saw their staff environment, public order and numbers increase. The most organised crime offences. significant change was at Justice At 100 stations, where staff were Minister Charlie Flanagan’s local reduced, crime increased in four station in which gained or more categories. 13 officers. The other two stations Burglary increased in 29 in the Laois division to gain staff districts – two thirds of which were Edenderry and Tullamore serve rural areas – where staff which got one extra garda each. numbers were cut. Burglaries Labour Party Justice rose in a further 34 areas where spokesman, Seán Sherlock TD, staff numbers remained stagnant, said: ‘It’s clear from this evidence all of those stations serve rural that there’s a direct correlation communities. between Garda numbers and Our analysis confirms that areas crime levels and it’s an inverse in close proximity to the M7 relationship – the higher the motorway – such as Newbridge, number of gardaí the fewer Abbeyleix and Portarlington – are crimes are committed. We are being targeted for robberies. going to have to talk about the At 189 stations where Garda Garda Reserve and the job that it numbers were cut robbery, does. I believe we are now at a extortion and hijacking offences point where the only deterrent to increased. crime is a Garda presence, even if Dermot Mulhall whose petrol station was More than half of all Garda that is a reserve presence. GUNPOINT held up at gunpoint in recent weeks stations (359) have endured staff cuts. In total there were 951 fewer HERE is traction now officers in stations across the for deputising local quent to that, somebody held a out to see me on Wednesday. This ing over your shoulder. country in 2016 than in 2011. volunteers within the customer with two small children was Saturday. I said that is not ‘I grew up in the town and there Many Garda stations were Reserve to actually at gunpoint. It was a botched job good enough and eventually they was a garda who walked the street closed but of those that remained have a presence on and they were caught. But it was sent someone from Abbeyleix. and we were all terrified of him… open the hardest hit by staff cuts the ground because traumatising for the girl and the ‘We are depending on gardaí But we don’t see gardaí anymore were: Blanchardstown in Dublin, where you have a visible presence woman working here. coming from Abbeyleix. They and I am here a lot.’ which lost 43 gardaí; Kevin Street, Tit acts as a clear deterrent. There ‘The gardaí were very active in On the far side of town Dermot Dublin (-36); Roxboro Road, will be resistance to that concept pursuing what I call the ram raid Mulhall’s petrol station was held Limerick (-23), Terenure, Dublin (- within the force itself. However, too, but nobody was ever charged.’ up at gunpoint in September. he 20) and Kells, Co. Meath (-18). as policing becomes concentrated She says shops in the town are also ‘Dangerous times now says: ‘The shop was held up with a Assistant Garda Commissioner in larger urban areas, rural heavily impacted by shoplifters gun and when he [the thief] went Pat Leahy recently told the Public outposts are being forgotten and but the response from gardaí is in a local shop’ to get away he crashed the car. He Accounts Committee that the we need to look at the idea that not as fast. ‘For us, where we are opened the till and just took it. It reopening of Stepaside Garda rural people could be inculcated impacted in the everyday is by was an in and out. Andrew, who station in south Dublin – where in within the Reserve, people who local shoplifters, all the things that could by down in Ballylinan or was on that evening, is doing okay. 2012 prior to its closure 35 gardaí live in their own areas acting in an make trying to make a living here and they are all rural He took it in his stride. It happened were stationed – is not a priority additional capacity but wearing difficult that are not followed up. country roads. I am not blaming so quickly. and that if he had the resources, the uniform of the Gardaí in a ‘ has two gardaí and a the gardaí, it is the system. ‘It is not nice. It was the first he would allocate them to areas reservist manner.’ sergeant. I rang last Saturday ‘You ring the gardaí, but some- time in a while we have been done like Ronanstown and Ballyfermot, An Garda Síochána did not looking for the gardaí and I was times it feels like there is no sup- here. It goes with the territory in Dublin, where the number of respond to a request for comment told the sergeant was in Portlao- port. To go up to the bank with unfortunately.’ gardaí has been reduced by six this week. ise. I was told somebody would be money, you don’t know who is look- [email protected] 26 The Irish Mail on Sunday DECEMBER 3 • 2017 In 2015 victims of rural crime warned the nearby M7 made them targets. Nothing happened, now armed robberies are the norm

SPECIAL REPORT DEBBIE Terror of the MCCANN IN

TWO years ago Dick Donoher told the Irish Mail on Sunday how he had lost count of the number of bur- glaries at his family-run service station in , Co. Laois. This week we returned to Laois to meet Mr Donoher, who confirmed his business has been hit ‘six or motorway seven’ times in the past two years. ‘NOTHING has changed,’ he said. ‘We’ve had maybe six or seven since you were here last. Life should not be like this in rural Ireland.’ Less than a hundred metres down the road staff at the local shop and post office are recovering from an armed raid with a hammer. The young woman who was working in Murphy’s Food Store on the evening two masked men came in brandish- ing a lump hammer and knife has marauders since left her job at the shop. Further along the M7 motorway in Mountrath and Abbeyleix, the sto- ries are similar. Shopkeepers, pet- FEWER STAFF, GARDA rol station owners and businesses THE WORST 100 STATIONS talk of thieves, sometimes armed, Durrow, , Clonbologue, threatening staff, ramming shop MORE CRIME STAFF CUTS These stations, where staff doors and even holding customers decreased and crime rose in at Drogheda, Cashel, Emly, Blackwater, OUR analysis cross-referenced the crime Number cut 2011-2016: Roundwood (21) at gunpoint. Emboldened by the statistics in 11 catgeories between 2011 (*DMR: Dublin Metropolitan) least four of 11 crime catego- knowledge that garda stations in ries, were the worst affected. and 2016 with changes in Garda staffing 1. Blanchardstown, DMR* 4 CATEGORIES UP: numbers in that period. It demonstrates Western Division: 43 Ballyconnell, Kilnaleck, Monaghan, Ball- a direct correlation between the two. 2. Kevin Street, DMR South 8 CATEGORIES UP: ‘We’ve had three Here in descending order we reveal the Central Division: 36 inagh, Shannon, Crosshaven, Mayfield, number of stations (of 673) that showed Ennis, Fermoy, Roscommon, Gorey (4) Bishopstown, Ballynoe, Youghal, Cobh, increases in each of the 11 categories 3. Roxboro Road, Limerick break-ins this year’ and saw a reduction in staff numbers. Division: 23 Coachford, Macroom, Rosscarbery, Cab- 4. Terenure, DMR Southern 7 CATEGORIES UP: inteely, Bridewell, Skerries, Kevin Street, Division: 18 Ramelton, Glin, Ballinrobe (3) Donnybrook, Rathfarnham, Clondalkin, these towns have been reduced to n Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences: 189 part-time hours, they know they n Offences against government, justice procedures 5. Kells Ceanannus Mór, Ballyshannon, An Charraig, Ailt an Chor- have time to snatch the money and and organisation of crime: 118 Meath Division: 18 6 CATEGORIES UP: rain, Kilmacrennan, Ballintra, Loughrea, speed away on the motorway. Some n Controlled drug offences: 85 6. Templemore, Tipperary Kingscourt, Midleton, Mitchelstown, Tuam, Ballyheigue, Killarney, Monaster- raids have happened in broad day- n Attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harass- Division: 17 evin, Newbridge, Robertstown, Fresh- light, others in the dead of night. Rathcoole, Milford, Gort, Ardrahan, 7. Mayorstone Park, Limerick ford, Clara, Portarlington, Abbeyfeale, In one terrifying incident a woman ments and related offences: 104 Tralee, Abbeyleix, Castleconnell, Clon- Division: 16 and her two small children were n Dangerous or negligent acts: 67 ark, Littleton, Kinnegad (13) Ballingarry, Croom, Henry St, Roxboro held at gunpoint as they queued in n Fraud deception and related offences: 60 8.Donnybrook, DMR South Road, Carlingford, Kiltimagh, Enfield, the post office. In another, across n Damage to property and to the environment: 41 Central Division: 15 5 CATEGORIES UP: Rosses Point, Moyne, An Rinn, Dun- town, a service station worker was n Weapons and explosives offences: 40 9. Tallaght, DMR Southern Carrickmacross, Blackrock, Carrigtwohill, garvan, Kilmeaden, Ardmore, Kill, held at gunpoint last September. n Division: 15 Back in Ballybrittas Dick Dono- Theft and related offences: 37 Bantry, Store St, Dublin Airport, Sun- Leamybrien, Tallow, Delvin, Rosslare n Public order and other social offences: 31 10. Cabra, DMR Western drive Road, Tallaght, Kerrykeel, Carraig Strand, Oylegate, Ballycullane, Avoca, her, with a sigh of resignation, says: Division: 14 ‘It really hasn’t changed at all. n Burglary and related offences: 29 Airt, Ard an Raitha, Craughwell, Dingle, Newtonmountkennedy(59) We’ve had three break-ins so far this year. One in February, one in May and one two weeks ago. ‘We have checkpoints here at our own. Opening the shop here in guys go to court and the judge lets five or six in the evening for peo- the morning or closing at night – them off. There’s no justice really.’ ple coming out of the local pub, those are dangerous times now in Ms O’Connor says she once used a but we don’t have any checkpoints a local shop.’ sweeping brush to run a thug from for the burglars coming off the Ms O’Connor recalls how the shop the shop. ‘My sweeping brush is motorway in the middle of the was ‘done’ a few months back. ‘It always behind me and I did clatter night. That’s what is needed in happened in August and there was one lad with it. I’d say he was high rural Ireland.’ on drugs and he came in saying, Describing one of the latest “hand over the money,” and I drew incidents, he says burglars raided HOW MoS the sweeping brush on him and he his petrol station in the middle of went running out the door. the night then ran back into the EXPOSED THE ‘It does take an affect on you, hav- shop to swipe a box of Cadbury ing to do something like that.’ Cream Eggs before making their M7 ISSUE TWO Down the motorway in Mountrath getaway. shop owners are not surprised to ‘They were fools and they were YEARS AGO learn burglary levels in the county caught,’ he says. ‘But we have are up 60% in the past year. six or seven hundred euro of Businesswoman Ann Martyn of cigarettes in evidence which we a young girl working here.’ Centra says there have been a can’t take back yet. Cigarettes She points to a number of scuff ‘spate’ of burglaries in the town and are after being rebranded and marks on the counter. ‘That’s where she is worried about response times so they are now worthless to the hammer slammed down on the of gardaí who, more often than not, us.’ counter that evening. The girl was have to travel from Abbeyleix. A little closer to the motorway is Barracks. ‘That was our closest Sinéad Kinsella, the shop’s owner, terrified, but thankfully nobody ‘This year we have had a really Murphy’s Food Store and post Garda station in years gone by,’ says: ‘Since the motorway came we was hurt.’ horrible year,’ she says. ‘We had a office. It sits next to a double- says shop assistant Ellen O’Connor. are more fearful. What needs to be Ms Kinsella said the girl has since raid on the store in the middle of the fronted building with a nameplate ‘But now the gardaí have to come done in the rural areas is bring the left the shop. ‘She is a 21-year-old night. They rammed the door at the over the door reading The Old from Portlaoise most of the time.’ local garda back… now we are on girl and she was terrified. But these back with a car and then, subse-