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Burglary gangs targeting empty Dublin city centre properties

Many business owners are now beefing up security.

CRIMINAL GANGS SUSPECTED of carrying out dozens of burglaries across Dublin’s commuter belt are now targeting empty commercial premises left vacant during the Covid-19 crisis. 

Gardaí have been called to the scenes of a number of break-ins or attempted burglaries at premises in the capital in the last three weeks. 

Officers suspect that a criminal gang which used to target suburban Dublin has now moved closer to the city centre to carry out the crimes.

Premises with expensive fixed assets and stock, such as pubs, are being targeted by the burglary gang. 

Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan said gardaí have reported an increase in burglaries in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford in the past number of weeks.

He said: “Gardai have reported a recent increase in crime in cities. Gardaí believe that the checkpoints established as part of Operation Fanacht have interrupted the movement of criminal gangs who target rural areas close to the motorway.

“Commercial premises have now become target areas. I would strongly urge communities to remain vigilant of suspicious activity during these testing times.”

Operation Fanacht was launched on 8 April. Gardaí conducted 150 permanent checkpoints on major routes, over 500 shorter and mobile checkpoints, as well as a large number of high visibility patrols at tourist locations, natural beauty spots, and parks and beaches.

Adrian Cummins, head of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, said that many businesses have been beefing up security since the restrictions on movement came in. 

He told TheJournal.ie: “There are so many premises lying idle at the moment and owners are doing everything in their power to mitigate against burglaries. 

“Our industry would not be as high risk as say those with a significant quantity of alcohol stock, valuable furniture or TV equipment. 

“It’s high risk at the moment and just like many other businesses, we are in a very dangerous situation. We have circulated advice to our members regarding security.”

Away from that, gardaí have seen criminals targeting homes while families exercise or go shopping during Covid-19 lockdowns.

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    Mute Pat Coyne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:17 AM

    Moore St. is the main hangout of choice for alcoholics, smackheads both local and imported, they are running amok there, the nearby supermarkets and off licenses should refuse to serve alcohol without other purchases—drunkards passing out on the street are wasting the time of the emergency services.

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    Mute Kieran Monaghan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:56 AM

    @Pat Coyne: It spreads out a lot further than that. Creepy crawlies are everywhere. They should be treated like zombies

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    Mute Babsmully
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:08 AM

    @Kieran Monaghan: They are zombies. Can’t talk properly, dead brain, hands out looking for money, making weird noises, blood and cuts everywhere. They’re just more noticeable now.

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    Mute Kieran Monaghan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:09 AM

    @Babsmully: true story.

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    Mute Ross
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:14 AM

    @Babsmully: yet we have heroin injection centres.. But certain people on here detest the name and sound of cannabis. Irelands a weird country

    46
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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 3:15 AM

    @Pat Coyne: I think the article is referring to more organized crime than a few junkies..

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    Mute Mary Morrisey
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    Apr 19th 2020, 7:38 AM

    @Pat Coyne: Where are the gards?

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    Mute John Keane
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:58 AM

    @Pat Coyne: I hope you find that perfect city you want to live in where everybody is like you. Id say its a pretty boring place. Singapore is good I hear, maybe you could go there and bring back some ideas on how to deal with it here rather than viewing them like some creature between a street dog and a human.

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    Mute Shirley Hollingsworth
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    Apr 19th 2020, 9:44 AM

    @John Keane: Dubai is actually good..no tolerance.high price to pay for any crime.Only reason other countries arnt like that is red tape.and do gooders..I’m glad you will not be bored when your house gets robbed or your child or grandchild picks up a used needle..or accidentally shot in traffic by a bullet for someone else.bring home the homeless.you might find they won’t go.the real homeless might though..there in hotel rooms and B and Bs.i sure wouldn’t be bored to see a major clean up.and heavy penalty s.beautiful country and cities ruined..

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    Mute Pat Coyne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 10:16 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: Have you heard of the broken window theory?

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    Mute Rochey77
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    Apr 19th 2020, 10:45 AM

    @Shirley Hollingsworth: also, The Constitution.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Apr 19th 2020, 11:13 AM

    @Shirley Hollingsworth: a woman saying “Dubai is good”? Wow! Women are prosecuted and jailed for reporting rape or even just spending time alone with a male employer. “prescribed punishments for extramarital sex in the UAE include imprisonment, deportation, floggings and stoning to death… Alicia Gali, an Australian national who has spoken publicly and extensively about her own ordeal, spent eight months in jail after being drugged and violently raped. With broken bones and evidence of serious assault, her abuse was continued by the authorities through the UAE’s legal processes.” Christy Kinahan and sons are living on the proceeds of crime, protected by ex-Russian special forces soldiers, and out of reach of international police forces because money talks in UAE but Dubai is good?

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Apr 19th 2020, 11:14 AM

    @EillieEs: 2/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/dubai-woman-arrested-gang-rape-uae-sex-crime-local-laws-know-how-common-it-is-a7422336.html

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    Mute John Keane
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:03 PM

    @Shirley Hollingsworth: Are you sure youre not talking about Manchester? You moved to Youghal, I dont think you see any of these things down there.
    I care about the minority not the majority, I care about my city, I care about humanity. Do you think I want more crime, more drugs, more shootings!
    Im not sure how you interpreted that from my comment.

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    Mute alphasully
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:10 AM

    are they inside or outside their 2km

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    Mute Pat Coyne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:32 AM

    @alphasully: Drug addicts/alcoholics should not be allowed to assemble and loiter around local shops. These shops are providing a badly needed service; the workers in the shops have enough to deal without having intoxicated people hanging around them, intimating both staff and customers.

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    Mute Gavin Kearney
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    Apr 19th 2020, 7:16 AM

    @Pat Coyne: quite impersonal don’t you think, a drug addict is still a human being, and has probably been through a lot more in their lives than most. Not saying their behaviour is acceptable, but they are still human. Not zombies or some inanimate object to just move along..

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    Mute Mary Morrisey
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    Apr 19th 2020, 7:49 AM

    @Pat Coyne: *gave €9.5M to WHO as a virtue-signal PR move by our govt. based on yellow journalism believed by the easily-manipulated.

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    Mute Lochlainn Marcus
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:07 AM

    @Pat Coyne: the article is more about Crime gangs Pat. I think you have misread it!! Addiction is not the same thing.

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    Mute Fabio Dillon
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:16 AM

    @Gavin Kearney: how d9 you know they’ve been through more in their lives ‘than most’..? Honestly?

    It seems the oldest and most tired excuse in the book. I’ve been through hell but never picked up a needle.

    Stop making excuses.

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    Mute Noirin Kavanagh
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:38 AM

    @Gavin Kearney: exactly, I hope some of the commentators above never have to deal with addiction. Would they speak of someone close to them who developed an addiction in the same way? A partner, member of the family, maybe one of their own children?

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    Mute Joe Davis
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:41 AM

    @Pat Coyne: and little scrotes with their 500 euro runners and their canada goose jackets should be allowed. Don’t forget its them people that are selling the shit to the addicted that are also hanging around outside shops and putting the fear of God into the shop owners.

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    Mute King B
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:56 AM

    @Fabio Dillon: it must take a lot to stick a needle full of heroine into yourself. You would have to have been in some dark place to find yourself in that position. Heroine isn’t a glamorous drug, it’s not something a teenager with a normal life gets into usually. I feel pity for these lads rather than disgust, a gust of wind would blow them over.

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    Mute Pat Coyne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 10:17 AM

    @Lochlainn Marcus: Have you heard of the broken window theory?

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    Mute Pat Coyne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 10:18 AM

    @Joe Davis: Have you heard of the broken window theory?

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    Mute Bekoboy
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    Apr 19th 2020, 10:55 AM

    @Pat Coyne:

    Cmon then tell us

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    Mute Pat Coyne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 10:58 AM

    @Bekoboy: Goggle it!

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    Mute Pat Coyne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:25 PM

    @Gavin Kearney: I never mentioned Zombies you are confusing me with another commentator.

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    Mute Jo Joyce
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:04 AM

    With most people staying home it wont be long before they break into the wrong gaf and end up pressing charges against the homeowner for bating the shite outta them

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Apr 19th 2020, 10:09 AM

    @Jo Joyce: Not any more. The one good thing that FF did, was give people the right to protect themselves and their property.

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    Mute Rochey77
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    Apr 19th 2020, 10:45 AM

    @Jo Joyce: a dead man tells no lies.

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    Mute Old Bill
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:15 AM

    Blinder Leo is playing a blinder!

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    Mute Conor Dunne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:10 AM

    @Old Bill: yep its definitely the fault of Leo that these lovely creatures break into someone’s personal space and take their belongings.

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    Mute CryptoWilf
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:15 AM

    @Conor Dunne: His avatar is a picture of starvin’ marvin, were you really expecting some sort of rational argument that’s based in reality from him?

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    Mute Robc
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    Apr 19th 2020, 2:35 AM

    @CryptoWilf: ‘starvin marvin’?
    Disgraceful comment, no matter what your political persuasion is.

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    Mute Mary Morrisey
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    Apr 19th 2020, 7:55 AM

    @Conor Dunne: Not funding gards better is, though. I’ve seen better gard law enforcement in developing world countries than here.

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    Mute Criostóir McCormack
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:07 AM

    @Mary Morrisey: Get it right Mary, it’s Guards.

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    Mute alphasully
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    Apr 19th 2020, 11:00 AM

    @Criostóir McCormack: or Gardai

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    Mute Criostóir McCormack
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @alphasully: I’m referring to her appalling spelling of Guards.

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    Mute Jeremiah Clifford
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    Apr 19th 2020, 7:39 AM

    I still can’t understand why the army haven’t been deployed to help in these situations

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    Mute Mary Morrisey
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:04 AM

    @Jeremiah Clifford: The more tolerant among us would not be happy. Leo’s party is in the middle of damage control and Simon wanting to keep his job. We’ll see how kind history is to their to their govt. policies, including recent. Can we get a better party than the current ones vying for our #1 top spot?

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    Mute Getaldine Byrne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:16 AM

    Let’s hope they’re within their 2K travel distance. Gardaí should be on to them ASAP

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 3:17 AM

    @Getaldine Byrne: well if they are homeless where does the 2 km zone start and begin ??

    47
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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Apr 19th 2020, 7:08 AM

    Perfect guinea pigs for all the new anti corona drugs coming on the market

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    Mute Peter Leonard
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:59 AM

    No money selling the drugs so they need something else to do

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Apr 19th 2020, 6:41 AM

    Do what the Minister of Police Bheki Cele did. Simply ban the sale of alcohol and cigarettes. Then enforce it. These two commodities weaken the immune system making people more disposed to catching the virus.

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    Mute Helena O Riordan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 6:54 AM

    @Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: maybe you’ve just explained why they haven’t ?

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    Mute brian oconnell
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:12 AM

    What are they trying to steal here? Unlikely to be money around.

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    Mute James Rowan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:31 AM

    @brian oconnell: toilet rolls

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Apr 19th 2020, 12:52 AM

    @brian oconnell: vodka, gin, wine, other spirits and liqueurs, bottled beers, soft drinks, metals, furnishings, computers, printers…

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    Mute James Rowan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:07 AM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: you forgot cabbage

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Apr 19th 2020, 1:17 AM

    @James Rowan: ah, here. How’d I forget the cabbage?

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    Mute Brendan Deegan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 5:28 AM

    Canned tomatoes Flour and eggs their big targets
    Thieves hunting for them everywhere
    Scarcer than gold
    Oops toilet rolls .I nearly forgot those
    L

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    Mute Dave Phelan
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    Apr 19th 2020, 6:23 AM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: the purchasers of these goods should face draconian penalties. Too many willing to buy these goods. Sellers of goods should have verifiable proof of purchase otherwise Garda should seize and prosecute. In normal times the markets and touring white vans loaded with expensive tools etc are somehow “tolerated” . Seize and prosecute. We need to rid the county of the easy selling of stolen goods.

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    Mute pomerleau
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    Apr 19th 2020, 9:06 AM

    @Brendan Deegan: Can’t get flour … anywhere

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    Mute Brian Birdy
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:48 AM

    Recommend remote monitoring ,
    there is some good technology out there using analytics which analyses what is been viewed , (activates back to monitoring station so the correct response can be taken e.g Garda, key holders etc) this activation can be taken from unusual behaviour and attempted break in etc .

    The person in the monitoring station can speak directly to the person who activated the camera or window /door contact alerting them that Gardaí are on the way , depending on the situation etc .

    Perimeter protection before they even get near the door or any weak point especially on commercial premises ,vulnerable persons home etc .

    If anyone wants to advice PM Messenger on Facebook

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    Mute Nick
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    Apr 19th 2020, 8:52 AM

    Eh gardai announcing that certain checkpoints are permanent sort of makes operations easier for the crims…..

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    Mute Anne
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    Apr 19th 2020, 9:12 AM

    People who rob others are just $cum!

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    Mute Niko Halpin
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    Apr 19th 2020, 9:28 AM

    City centre is like a seen from the walking dead,
    Crossed between Evil Dead

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