Criminal sightings prove to be bogus

REPORTS that a notorious criminal may be in hiding in North Africa were the latest in a growing number of hoax or false sightings, gardaí yesterday said.

Detectives have checked out numerous “sightings” of “Westies” leader Shane Coates and his partner, Stephen Sugg, in recent weeks.

The violent pair were allegedly abducted near their apartment in the Alicante area of Spain last January.

There were claims yesterday that 31-year-old Coates may be living in Tunisia, after the girlfriends of the missing duo reportedly booked tickets to the North African country. However, senior gardaí yesterday expressed scepticism regarding the claims.

“This rumour started at the beginning of April, when one of Sugg’s sisters went off to Tunisia with a friend. People put two and two together and said they had gone there to meet him,” said one source. “They’re now saying their girlfriends have gone. He may well be there, but in reality there isn’t an ounce of fact.”

Gardaí in the Blanchardstown area of North-West Dublin have spent precious man-hours chasing what, in each case, has turned out to be false or hoax sightings.

Just this weekend, gardaí received a tip off that both Coates and Sugg were drinking in the Mill House pub in nearby Clonee village with a large group of friends. However, on checking it out, there was nothing to show they were there.

Recently, gardaí were told that the pair were drinking in Judge’s Chambers in Alicante, formerly owned by deceased Irish criminal Liam Judge. Gardaí found that while the pub had reopened, there were no confirmed sightings of the pair.

“I’ve no doubt that they are alive and well, but you won’t get proof of their sightings,” said one garda.