Gardaí target gangs in firearm crackdown
Six garda districts are co-operating in the move which is also aimed at curbing a recent spate of robberies at homes, businesses and post offices in the region.
Codenamed Operation Deel, after the river which runs through west Limerick, the crackdown is being coordinated from Mallow.
Other gardaí involved in the operation are from Fermoy, Kanturk, Bruff, Askeaton and Newcastlewest.
Mallow-based Superintendent Barry McPolin said the patrols had been significantly stepped up during the day and at night for the gangs who mainly travel secondary roads.
It is understood that most of them are from the Limerick area, but some are also from Cork. The worry for gardaí is that these stolen firearms could end up being used in a serious crime, including fatal shootings.
“This operation will run for a number of weeks and will be constantly monitored and evaluated,” Supt McPolin said.
He said the move was a “pro-active response to crime prevention” but was quick to stress that gardaí would need maximum cooperation from the public if the operation was to be a success.
“We can’t stress how important it is that people make sure their firearms are secured properly. We are concerned that stolen weapons will ultimately make their way into the criminal underworld,” Supt McPolin said.
He would not reveal how many firearms had been stolen in recent weeks in north Cork, and south and west Limerick but confirmed there were “a number”.
He said co-operation was being sought not only from firearms owners but from all those living in the rural region.
“People have to be vigilant. Anyone who sees any suspicious activity should immediately contact their local garda station. But they should also, if possible, get a good description of the people and take the registration number of the vehicle they are driving,” Supt McPolin said.
Gardaí will also use Operation Deel as an intelligence-gathering tool on the criminals. They believe that there is a certain amount of co-operation, or “interlinkage” as they called it, between both Limerick and Cork gangs.
Anybody with information can contact Mallow Garda Station at (022) 21105 or their local station.
