Gardaí investigating the murder on Michael Keogh on the 31st of May, 2017 at Sheridan Court, Dublin 1, have arrested two men in their 40s and a woman in her 30s in Dublin today, 6th February, 2019.

One man and one woman are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice, 2007 and the second man under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. They are detained at Dublin City centre Garda Stations.

Learn more about the case from via independent.ie: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/new-job-new-start-hopefully-all-goes-well-chilling-final-message-of-man-shot-dead-in-dublin-35775657.html

Gardaí are looking for the public’s help tracing Sophie Mercer, 15 years, who is missing from Ballymun in Dublin.  Sophie was last seen on the 1st February 2019.

Sophie is described as 5’4”, thin build with long brown hair. When last seen she was wearing a navy hoodie, blue jeans and purple runners.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballymun Garda Station on 01 666 4400.

Gardaí investigating the unauthorised taking of a car from the Dublin area on 05/02/19 carried out searches of a premises in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan on 06/02/19.

During the course of the search Gardaí recovered the stolen car as well as what is believed to be a large amount of stolen property including various car parts. 

A man in his 60s was arrested and is currently detained at Castleblayney Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Searches at the site are continuing with the assistance of Revenue Customers Officers, the ISPCA and local authorities. 

A man in his 50s has been arrested as part of ongoing investigations into incidents that took place at Falsk, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon on 16/12/2018. 

Following a search of a house in the Killoe area of Co. Longford today 06/02/19, a man was arrested and is currently detained at Castlerea Garda station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

Investigations are ongoing. 

The two men, aged in their 20s, have been charged in relation to this incident. They are due to appear before Gorey district court on 06/02/2019 at 10:30am.

Original Story:

Gardaí investigating an armed robbery at Post Office in Bridgetown, Co. Wexford, have arrested two men. 

On 04/02/2019 at approximately 10:30am two men entered the Post Office, one armed with a knife and the other with an iron bar, dressed in high viz clothing and motorcycle helmets. They demanded cash and threatened staff before leaving the premises with an undisclosed amount of cash. They left the scene in a black car.

Later that afternoon Gardaí arrested two men, both aged in their 20s, in relation to this incident. They are both currently detained in Wexford Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The missing person search for Robert Murray, 25 years, has been stood down following the discovery of a body at Renmore Beach, Co. Galway, on 04/02/19.

Fowl play is not suspected in this incident. A file will be prepared for the Coroner. 

Gardai would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance in this matter.

Original Story:

An appeal has been issued to trace a 25-year-old man missing from Salthill, Co Galway.

Robert Murray was last seen in the Shop Street area of Galway City at 10.15pm on 8 January.

He is described as being 1.7m (5’10”) tall, of thin build and with black hair.

When last seen, he was wearing black trousers and a khaki green colour jacket.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Galway Garda Station on 091-538000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

Gardaí in Galway are appealing to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 26-year-old Roland Mitchell from Fr Griffin Road, Galway.

Roland was last seen at 7pm on Saturday 2/2/19 and was reported missing by his family who are concerned for his wellbeing.

He is described as 5ft 11” in height, of slight build with brown/sandy hair. When last seen he was wearing a black denim jacket, blue jeans and black shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Galway Garda Station 091 576257 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Two men aged in their 20s arrested as part of this investigation are expected to appear before a sitting of Bray District Court Wednesday morning (6/2/2019) charged in connection with the case.

Original Story:

Two men have been arrested as part of Operation Thor following a number of overnight burglaries at business premises in Counties Wicklow and Wexford.

Shortly after 2am a number of men forced entry into a filling station in Gorey Town. Cigarettes along with an undisclosed sum of cash were taken. A short time later convenience stores in the villages of Redcross and Rathnew were burgled along with a phone shop in Wicklow Town. Sums of cash along with cigarettes and mobile phones were taken during the raids.

During a follow up operation involving Gardaí attached to Special Crime Operations, Dublin based Garda Units and the Garda Air Support Unit a car was intercepted in the Bawnogue area of west Dublin. Two men aged in their 20s were arrested at the scene following a foot chase. Both men are currently detained at Wicklow Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The car involved in the incident has been removed for forensic examination. A large quantity of cigarettes along with phones, sim cards and other property were recovered from the car by investigating Gardaí.

The investigation is ongoing and updates will follow.

Gardaí are appealing to motorists to ‘Park Smart’ following 35 thefts from vehicles in West Cork on Sunday 3^rd February 2019.

The incidents occurred in housing estates in Clonakilty, Belgooly and Riverstick, where most of the vehicles were unlocked.  Last year our ‘Park Smart’ appeal showed that since 2015, approximately €340,000 worth of property is stolen from vehicles each year. Property normally stolen includes cash, laptops, tools, sunglasses, jewellery and sports equipment. The figures also showed that one-third of all vehicles broken into in residential areas were unlocked.

Speaking at Bandon Garda Station today, Superintendent Brendan Fogarty said ‘I would ask that wherever you park your vehicle, that you always take your property with you and ensure the vehicle is locked, alarmed and parked in a secure, well-lit location. Over the weekend in Cork City we also had a number of theft from cars in Ballincollig, Douglas, and Togher. But this is not just an issue for us in Cork. Criminals throughout the country are going around housing estates and trying every car door until they get one that is unlocked. Unfortunately in Clonakilty, Belgooly and Riverstick, this was the case and on Sunday night we had 35 incidents.’

Superintendent Fogarty added ‘I would ask that if anyone noticed any suspicious people or vehicles around Clonakilty, Belgooly or Riverstick on Sunday night into Monday morning, to contact us at any Garda Station. Any cars or taxis who were driving in those areas with dash cams we would also like to hear from you.’

Operation Ketch 5 is the latest phase of an on-going search and recovery operation targeting suspects involved in the possession and distribution of Child Exploitation Material (Child Pornography) either through Social Network sites or via File Sharing Networks. 

The Online Child Exploitation Unit (OnCE) at the Garda National Protection Services Bureau is leading out the Operation. This phase of the operation took place between 1 and 4 February 2019 and involved searches under warrant issued pursuant to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 in a number of Garda Division throughout the country. Liaison is being maintained with the Child & Family Agency regarding any child protection concerns that arise.

Warrants to search have been executed at 23 addresses nationwide pursuant to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. The searches were conducted by the Online Child Exploitation Unit and the newly established Divisional Protection Service Units and local Detective Units.
Searches have been carried out in 11 counties across the country.  Once again follow up searches are anticipated to be carried out in the next few days.

Counties where searches have taken place; –

Dublin 6
Monaghan 2
Cork 6
Clare 1
Carlow 1
Donegal 2
Cavan 1
Meath 1
Louth 1
Limerick 1
Kerry 1

Digital material has been seized for forensic examination at all addresses searched. Liaison is being maintained with the Child & Family Agency regarding any child protection concerns that arise.

The objectives of this operation are to:
• Identify Child Protection concerns at each address and engage with the Child & Family Agency.
• Target persons suspected of possessing, importing and distributing online Child Abuse Material (Child Pornography). 

The timing of the operation is to coincide with Safer Internet Day 2019, during which An Garda Síochána will, in conjunction with Webwise, be promoting the ‘Be in Ctrl’ Schools Programme which aims to inform students of the risk of online exploitation, raise awareness regarding safe online behaviour and empower young people to seek help and report incidents to the Gardaí.

The resource deals with online coercion and extortion of children which is a form of digital blackmail, sometimes referred to as ‘sextortion’, where sexual information or images are used to extort sexual material, sexual favours and/or money from children.

Included in the resource pack is a 10-minute video, portraying two teenagers, a boy and girl, being exploited online either by a criminal organisation for money or by an individual online sexual offender seeking further sexual material.

The video, includes advice as to how such crimes may be reported to An Garda Síochána. The 3 minute video, #BeInCtrl, which will be shared across social media was created to complement the ‘Be in Ctrl’ teaching resource. The purpose of the video, depicting the stories of two teenagers subjected to online sexual coercion and extortion, is to advise young people of such criminal behaviour, to raise awareness as to how young people may protect themselves online and to advise where they may find help and support. The ultimate aim of the programme is to help young people stay ‘in Ctrl’ of their online lives.

The Online Child Exploitation Unit (OnCE) at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) offers the following advice:
• Protect your online life – use the maximum privacy settings.
• Be aware that people online may not be who they claim to be.
• Keep control online – do not share explicit or intimate images with anyone. 

If you believe you are a victim of this type of crime, you should do the following:
1. Don’t share more, don’t pay anything.
2. Look for help. You are not alone.
3. Preserve evidence. Don’t delete anything.
4. Stop the communication. Block the person.
5. Report it to An Garda Síochána.

To contact An Garda Síochána:
• Call in person to, or telephone, your local Garda Station;
• In the event of an emergency dial 999/112 or 
• Contact the Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line at 1800 555 222.

Preserve the evidence/device, do not delete anything. Crimes of this nature that are reported to the Garda Síochána, will be fully investigated.

An Garda Síochána wishes to reassure the community, through operations and awareness campaigns such as these and other ongoing work by the Online Child Exploitation Unit, that we will relentlessly pursue those involved in the sexual exploitation of children, including those who possess, import and distribute child abuse material.