Armed gardaí arrest four after a rural ‘crimewave’

GARDAÍ detained four men yesterday in a crackdown on rural crime.

The four were arrested by armed officers in a series of dawn raids in Pallasgreen and Doon in southeast Limerick.

It comes after a wave of violent burglaries and several suspected arson attacks on farmers’ hay barns.

As many as 40 officers were involved in yesterday’s operation to target organised criminals.

Gardaí swooped at 7am in five separate locations arresting four men, all in their 20s, according to sources.

A source said: ‘There were five searches carried out involving local gardaí, the regional support unit, the divisional drugs unit, and the Garda dog unit.

‘The men are being questioned in relation to the recent criminal activity in Pallasgreen and Doon including the hay barns and other organised crime.’

The source said no weapons or drugs had been seized.

‘It’s early days yet, but the searches are ongoing,’ said the source.

One man is being held at Bruff Garda station and two are detained at Henry Street. They are being questioned under organised crime legislation, Section 50 of the Offences Against The State Act. All three can be held by gardaí for up to seven days without charge.

The fourth suspect is being held in Tipperary town Garda station and is being questioned under Section 30 of the same Act. Gardaí can detain him for up to three days without charge.