Not a very friendly welcome to Ireland

November 1993

A Canadian visitor, Andrew Ward from Vancouver, certainly got an unfriendly welcome to Ireland shortly after disembarking from the Fishguard ferry to Rosslare Harbour last Tuesday evening.

A motorist, who gave him a lift to the outskirts of Gorey, drove off with a holdall bag that contained £300 in sterling, travellers cheques, his passport and his camera, amongst other things. The motorist, who was driving a Northern Ireland registered car, was travelling alone. Gardai believe he had also been on the ferry.

He picked up the Canadian just outside the ferry port and dropped him off on the edge of Gorey. The Canadian had just taken one bag from the car when the motorist drove away at speed, with the boot still open, before he had a chance to take out the bag with his cash, travel documents, and camera.

A big Garda search was immediately mounted, but so far the culprit has not been found.