Almost €80,000 has been defrauded from five bank card holders in a new type of “elaborate” scam that has hit the country in the last couple of weeks.

Eastern European gangs are using specially made foil bags which bypass retail security scanners in smash-and-grab raids.

The former RDS carpark attendant accused of people trafficking told gardaí he was "unaware" the six Egyptian men he arranged to meet from Dublin Airport were illegal immigrants.