Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 170: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the escalation in the number of private security and cash in transit personnel and their families who have been involved in robberies in recent years; the progress that has been made to solve these robberies; and the ten biggest robberies over the past 10 years; and the result of Garda investigations of same. [36096/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 85 of today's date.

While not all of the information sought by the Deputy is readily available in the manner sought, or could not be made available without the disproportionate expenditure of Garda resources, the table below sets out the number of robbery offences recorded, detected, proceedings commenced and convictions for the years 2000 to 2005.

With regard to two specific major incidents involving security companies I am informed by the Garda Authorities that, in relation to the false imprisonment of a family and the robbery of over €2 million from a security company in April, 2005, following an intensive investigation a 'search and arrest' operation took place on the 27th April, 2005 during which twenty-six people were arrested and detained under the provisions of Section 30 Offences Against the State Act 1939/98. A number of firearms, drugs with an estimated street value of €750,000, and a large quantity of cash were seized. A significant amount of documentation and other evidence was also recovered.

Two persons were charged with offences relating to the drugs and firearms. An investigation file was submitted to the Law Officers in respect of the other people arrested and charges of robbery and false imprisonment against eight other individuals were directed.

In relation to a second robbery in April 2005 during which €1.9 million was taken from another security company, a number of searches were carried out the following day and significant evidence was seized. The investigation is on-going.

Intelligence-led operations and initiatives are continuously being conducted by local Garda management, at District, Divisional and Regional levels, in conjunction with the national specialist units under Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services, to target criminals, their associates and crime gangs, and their finances, responsible for this type of criminality in order to disrupt and disband such crime networks.