Gardaí connect with copper wire thieves at checkpoint

IT took gardaí about a millisecond to work out that two men with a pile of valuable copper wire stuffed in their car might have been up to no good.

Just minutes after robbing the copper wire, the pair drove right into a routine Garda checkpoint which had been set up primarily to tackle drink drivers.

The copper wire was stolen from a yard belonging to the Dairygold co-operative in Mitchelstown, on Sunday night. The men packed it into their car and it was clearly visible in the back seats as well.

They drove right into the checkpoint which had been mounted in Fermoy.

Both men were arrested at the scene under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and taken to Fermoy Garda Station for questioning. They were subsequently released without charge, but a Garda spokesman said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The men, aged 22 and 24, were both said to have addresses in Cork city.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, gardaí in Midleton say they are following a “definite line of inquiry” into three break-ins which occurred during the early hours of yesterday.

It is believed cash and valuables were taken during robberies at a public house and a pet shop in Midleton’s main street and at a business premises at Knockgriffen.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses. “We are particularly interested to hear from anybody who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the main street between midnight and 6am. We are also looking at the same time frame for the Knockgriffen burglary,” said a Garda spokesman.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Midleton Garda Station at [phone].