Crime-fighting councillor launches text alert service

The Cork city councillor whose dramatic high-speed pursuit led to the capture and eventual jailing of a notorious Dublin-based house break-in gang has launched a Neighbourhood Watch- style text service.

Glendale-based Labour Cllr Ger Gibbons said he hopes the service, aimed primarily at residents in the city’s south west ward, will encourage people to report suspicious activity in their area.

But he said it will also be used to keep residents up-to-date on severe weather alerts, flood warnings, road closures, and residents’ association meeting.

“I don’t see it as my service. I see it as a community service,” he said.

Mr Gibbons said he was prompted to establish the service after the dramatic events of December 1, 2012, and the subsequent court case. He was called to his parents’ home around 6pm that night after it was broken into and ransacked.

“I phoned the guards but decided to drive around to see if I could spot anything,” he said.

“I drove in to a nearby estate and saw a KE-registered car, which would be unusual there at that time, with three people in it.

“I parked ahead of them and was about to get out of my car, when that car sped off. I didn’t know if it was the guys who broke in to the house, but I thought it was suspicious so I phoned the guards again and said I was in pursuit.”

Mr Gibbons used his hands-free car phone to stay in contact with a garda operator.

The suspect car drove onto the South Ring Road, and sped towards the Jack Lynch Tunnel. He saw the car slow down and pull in to the left lane as a Garda patrol car sped passed him, and drive past the raiders.

“I told the operator but he said two garda jeeps were just seconds away,” he said.

Mr Gibbons then put on his hazard lights and pulled up right behind the suspect car just as the garda jeeps arrived.

Three men were arrested and Gardaí later found almost €20,000 worth of stolen jewellery or cash in two secret compartments in the car one under the back seat as well as gloves, pliers and a crowbar.

The three gang members were subsequently jailed, two to seven years with two years suspended, and one to seven years with the final year suspended.

To date some 50 people have signed up for the text alert system.

* You can sign up for the text alert system by texting your name and number to Cllr Gibbons on 086-200 8807