Arrest made over burglaries at churches in Limerick villages

GARDAI have made an arrest in connection with burglaries at three Limerick churches on St Patrick’s Day.

Superintendent Paul Reidy revealed the news at a joint policing sub-committee meeting of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District.

“It was a particularly nasty crime to break into churches,” said Supt Reidy.

He told councillors that gardai had done a lot of work in respect of the burglaries at the churches in Athlacca, Bruree and Bruff and a woman was arrested in Kilkenny earlier this month.

Supt Reidy also told the meeting there was a “significant” burglary at Baggotstown, Bruff in February. A person has also been arrested and charged, he said.

Supt Reidy said there were 17 thefts in the first quarter of 2023 in the municipal area compared to 11 in the last three months of 2022. There were 18 thefts in the first quarter of 2023 compared to 16 in the last three months of 2022.

Supt Reidy said a shop on Lord Edward Street, Kilmallock was “hit quite considerably” with a store on Kilfinane’s Main Street also being targeted. A shoplifter has been detected, said Supt Reidy who then spoke about “very troubling” assaults causing harm in the area.

“There were four assaults causing harm in quarter one compared to quarter four last year. There are two detections out of the four. Investigations are ongoing. We have a high detection rate,” said Supt Reidy.

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The superintendent highlighted a “significant capture” by the county drugs unit based in Adare.

“They are targeting the supply and sale of drugs. They seized a considerable amount of cocaine and a lot of cash in a house in Bruree.

“It was a great detection. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes. There are a lot of targets,” said Supt Reidy. On a similar theme, he said there has been an increase in drug driving.

“Fifteen years ago drug driving was pretty rare. Now it is probably more prevalent than drink driving. We have a drug testing kit that is like a Covid kit. We do a lot of checkpoints,” said Supt Reidy.

Cllr Ger Mitchell welcomed the work of the county drugs unit which has a sergeant and five gardai.

“Drugs are the new scourge. They are affecting people's mental health and physical health. There is a waiting list for Cuan Mhuire. We have to start putting proper policies in place,” said Cllr Mitchell.

Cllr Brigid Teefy said you hear “horror stories” in relation to drugs and how prevalent they are. Cathaoirleach John Egan said drugs are the biggest concern in rural Ireland. “Twenty years ago they were unheard of,” said Cllr Egan.