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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Pictured: One of the suspects was wielding a sledgehammer
Gardai have made an appeal, on RTÉ television, for information about a spate of burglaries in Clare and Limerick earlier this year.
In the early hours of Thursday, January 23, a series of burglaries took place between Ennistymon and Limerick city. Over a period of two hours, a number of business premises were ransacked and gardaí are satisfied that the suspects are the same in each of these cases.
Appealing for fresh information on these incidents was Detective Sergeant Kevin O'Hagan, who appeared on RTÉ's Crimecall, a monthly television programme which is aimed at identifying criminals, to hopefully gain more information on the suspects.
In his appeal, he told viewers at 2.20am on the morning in question a black Audi A6 estate came into Ennistymon and drove up the main street before parking outside a phone shop in the town.
Four male suspects got out of the vehicle and approached the window of the shop. They can be seen on CCTV looking through before trying to open the door with an implement. The owner appeared inside the premises and one of the suspects then broke the window. They returned to the vehicle and left in the direction of Ennis.
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According to gardai, 20 minutes later, the same vehicle pulled into the forecourt of a service station on Lahinch Road in Ennis and one of the men approached the door of the premises using an implement.
He forced it open and once inside, the four men went to the till area. They proceeded to take some cash, vapes and cigarettes. They were inside the premises for just over three minutes before returning to the vehicle and fleeing the scene.
One of the men at the door could be seen in possession of a sledgehammer.
Then, at 3:10am, the vehicle was then seen pulling into the forecourt of a service station in the town of Newmarket-on-Fergus. Here the culprits used a sledgehammer to break the window of the shop. One went behind the counter, taking vapes and cigarettes, while the other person tried to unsuccessfully enter another door within the shop.
From here, the suspects made their way towards Limerick city, where at 3:30am, they can be seen pulling up outside a tech store in the Castletroy area where they used a sledgehammer to break the window.
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The suspects were in the shop for five minutes before returning to the car. They left then in the direction of Castleconnell village.
Speaking about the incidents, Detective Sergeant Kevin O'Hagan said: "These incidents caused a huge impact on local businesses. Between the damage and the items taken, these businesses were at a loss of over €50,000. If anyone has any information on these incidents or the men involved, please contact us."
The four crimes traversed 80 kilometres in the space of only 90 minutes, with the culprits being "very well covered up," generally wearing face coverings, tracksuits, large jackets and runners. But while the clothing is nondescript, Detective O'Hagan is hoping that someone might recognise the way they move or the way their "gait" is.
In total, the masked individuals made away with over €50,000 worth of items in a black Audi A6 with a 5.2 litre petrol model.
Other notable features of the car are its silver wing mirrors, which do not match the rest of the vehicle, and its 08 registration, which was cloned. The model of the car was only produced between 2005 and 2011.
If you recognise any of these men, the car, or have any information regarding these incidents, you can contact your local garda station or alternatively, Crimecall on 1800 40 50 60.
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