Irish criminals among Britain’s ‘most wanted’

BURGLARS, confidence tricksters and alleged gun-runners from Ireland are among Britain’s most-wanted criminals.

Their details as well as photographs are listed on Britain’s Crimestoppers website, which encourages the public to help solve crime with anonymous tip-offs.

Among the 179 men and women listed on the website as “the UK’s Most Wanted” is Geoffrey Preece, in his 30s, who is wanted in connection with a plot to supply hard drugs in Cardiff.

“He is believed to have used the alias name of Gilheaney and to travelled to Ireland where he has connections with the Travelling community,” said Crimestoppers.

Pensioner Ronald Priestley failed to turn up at Leeds Crown Court on charges relating to the production of £4.25 million (€6.29m) of fake banknotes. He was convicted in his absence and sentenced to eight years, but British police believe he could be in Ireland or cities like Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow or London.

James Francis McDonagh, in his late 20s, is wanted in connection with a series of burglaries of pubs in Glamorgan, south Wales.

“He has a very strong Irish accent and is a member of the Travelling community.”

Sex offender Joshua Karney, in his late 20s, broke the conditions of his release after serving a 15-month sentence for indecently assaulting a 14-year-old boy in England. Police said Karney, who speaks with a strong Dublin accent and has a large birthmark on his back, goes by different names including Mark Moffitt, Devon Daniels, Aiden Wiely, Kieran Arren O’Shea and James O’Shaun.

Michael Sammon is sought in connection with one of the largest gun importation rackets in Britain. More than 250 guns were smuggled into Britain with the intention of being converted into live-firing weapons between 2004 and 2005. Aged about 50, Sammon is white, 6ft, obese with curly dark hair and has links to Manchester, Ireland, Leicester as well as Spain.

Darren John Slaney, in his early 40s, is believed to be in Cork or may have gone to Spain. Originally from Hull in Yorkshire, Slaney failed to notify police of a change of address. He is slim, white, about 6ft, with light brown hair and has tattoos of a tiger, two swallows, and a snake wrapped around a lion’s head.

www.crimestoppers-uk.org/wanted or ring gardaí.