Gardaí defend crackdown as gangland killers strike again

Gardaí defended their performance tonight in the wake of another gangland murder in west Dublin.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said he was committed to continuing the progress made under Operation Anvil and no resources would be spared to achieve its aims.

On Wednesday, Dublin drug dealer Mark Glennon, 32, was shot four times outside his Blanchardstown home.

In the aftermath of the west Dublin killing, the Labour Party called for a high-power clampdown to tackle the spiralling crime rate.

Labour claimed only one in six crimes were solved and the 13 murders so far this year looked like they would top 2003’s total of 20.

However, gardaí tonight said over 753 people were arrested under Operation Anvil between May 17 to September 5 last – four in relation to murders, 380 in connection with burglaries and 203 in relation to serious assaults.

Operation Anvil was set up on May 17 last to investigate serious organised crime in the greater Dublin area.

Over €2.2m has been recovered in stolen or illegal property, 163 firearms and 1,492 vehicles were seized.

Under the operation, Gardaí set-up 12,037 checkpoints, as well as carrying out 3,755 drug searches and 279 theft related searches.

A garda spokesman said there were no budgetary issues arising in relation to the crackdown and a date for winding down the operation had not been established.

“Operation Anvil is reviewed on a weekly basis by senior Garda management in the Dublin Metropolitan Region,” a spokesman said.

“As previously advised the operation encompasses two approaches – overt high visibility patrolling and checkpoint schedules by uniformed officers supported by plain clothes armed officers, where appropriate and an intelligence driven covert focus.

“Following analysis of intelligence, resources are re-deployed to specific areas throughout the city.”

Gardaí highlighted public support and assistance as an integral part of the operation and appealed to anyone with information on criminal activities to contact a garda station or the garda confidential telephone line at 1800 666 111.