Olympic rowing team’s boat engines stolen by criminal gang

Criminal gangs have targeted members of the Irish Olympic rowing team, stealing outboard engines from support boats and attempting to sell them abroad.

Gangs from Ireland and eastern Europe have also been responsible for a spate of boat engine thefts nationwide, with fishermen and pleasure boaters in Cork and Kerry particularly affected.

In the latest incident, several 15 and 20 horsepower engines were stolen from boats belonging to Rowing Ireland, the governing body of Ireland’s Olympic rowing team.