GAA club dressing room ransacked during training session
The normally crime-free village of Dromina, on the Cork/Limerick border near Charleville, was targeted by thieves who ransacked the local GAA club. Gardaí said that they entered the clubhouse between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on Tuesday as players were at training.
“An individual, or individuals, went in and stole property including cash, mobile phones, credit cards and fuel cards. They also took the keys to three cars parked nearby and searched them for valuables as well. It was only discovered when the players returned from the training session,” a Garda spokesman said.
He said the clubhouse was not locked at the time.
The Garda spokesman advised sporting organisations to ensure that clubhouses should be locked or fully supervised during matches or training sessions.
“Dromina is a very law-abiding place and this is very much out of the ordinary. We have to think that whoever did this had some local knowledge,” the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, a valuable piece of machinery was stolen from a building site just a few kilometres away.
The yellow Kobelco excavator was parked on a building site on the Dromina-Milford road.
“It would have to have been loaded up onto a long truck and driven away. The machine is worth up to €80,000,” the Garda spokesman said.
Detectives believe it may have been stolen for resale abroad.
However, they have not ruled out the possibility that it could be still in this country and stored in an out-of-the-way barn.
They are appealing for anybody who sees such a machine to contact them.
Gardaí have ruled out any connection between the robbery at the GAA clubhouse and the theft of the excavator. They are appealing to anybody with information to contact Mallow Garda Station at 022-21105 or Charleville Garda Station at 063-81222.
