Three due in court after lorry hijack

Three men accused of hijacking a lorry carrying €300,000 worth of vodka in Co Meath are to appear at Longford District Court this morning.

The truck was targeted by three men at around 11am yesterday near Dunshaughlin while the driver was en route from from Bailieboro, Co Cavan, to Dublin.

The lorry was found several hours later in the Delvin area of Co Westmeath at around lunchtime.

The truck driver was not injured in the hijack.

All three were detained over night under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act at Mullingar and Longford Garda Stations.

Sinn Féin has said whoever was involved in the robbery were not acting for or on behalf of Irish republicanism.

“The IRA was not involved in the raid,” chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said today.

“I condemn it unreservedly and I do believe that anyone involved in criminality of any description should be arrested, should be charged and should be brought before a judge or jury.”

Mr McGuinness said he could not take responsibility for people’s actions and urged everyone to remain focused on the peace process.

“As far as the responsibility of influencing people I think we have influenced many people within our society but that doesn’t mean to say there are people who don’t disagree with us on the issue of criminality,” he continued.

“Republicans shouldn’t be immune from prosecution. We are just like everybody else. If we break the law then we should be arrested, we should be charged, and we should be brought before a judge and a jury.

“This is a purely criminal matter and should be dealt with as such by the guards and the court authorities in the south.”