‘Shrewd’ salesman targets Limerick for sale of diplomat’s bullet-proof car
The high-security car, offered for sale in a Limerick newspaper, was previously used by a member of the diplomatic corps who was regarded as a security risk, it was learned last night.
The car specs mean it can withstand all kinds of attacks, including bombs.
The Ford Scorpio Cosworth 2.9 litre executive saloon was purchased by a Dublin car dealer who decided to advertise it in the Limerick market, believing there is a ready market for these kind of cars among the city’s feuding gangs.
A well-placed motor industry source said last night: “A reputable car dealership bought the car from an embassy which would require above normal security for their diplomats and, being a shrewd businessman, decided Limerick would be a place to advertise it.”
The dealership’s attention was drawn to Limerick after the highly-publicised seizure by the CAB in April of two such vehicles being used by members of the McCarthy Dundon gang.
A recent advertisement in the cars-for-sale section of the Limerick Chronicle sought €16,995 for the 1997 Cosworth automatic, which had just 37,000km on the clock.
Mobile numbers given with the advertisement are understood to belong to a Dublin dealership.
Calls to the numbers were not returned.
The two bullet-proof, armour-plated cars confiscated from the McCarthy Dundon gang were BMWs, one of which cost over €100,000. Such vehicles are legal, but the CAB seized them as those driving them did not have any visible means of income outside of social welfare payments.
Gang member James Cronin whose body was found in a shallow grave on April 7 last, was seen driving an armour-plated BMW 4x4 days before.
He was linked to the McCarthy Dundon gang and gardaí believe he was murdered on the orders of the gang leader, who feared he would make a statement to gardaí about the murder of Mark Moloney in Garryowen on April 5.
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