Bullet-proof vests for sale on Irish websites
BULLET-PROOF jackets and body armour plates are being sold on Irish buy-and-sell websites.
A user on Adverts.ie is advertising a range of protective equipment, capable of protecting against everything from a 9mm pistol to a .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum. The seller, going by the name Friskit, received more than 17,000 views for an ad offering a range of bullet-proof vests priced at €180.
Dozens of interested buyers can be seen in the comments section, bartering or offering to pay full price. Both bullet-proof and stab vests are legal in Ireland and are sometimes worn by security guards and doormen. Friskit confirms that he has multiple armour vests in stock which come in a range of sizes. He also states that most of them are also stab-proof. A description of the vests notes that they will also provide ‘enhanced protection against higher velocity edged and pointed weapon threats’.
The seller also advertises a range of body armour plates for a total of €600. These items insert into a carrier or bulletproof vest which increases its protection. The vendor’s wares are listed on Facebook Marketplace, where he states that they are for collection only and will accept cash or monetary exchange via Paypal. Attempts have been made to reach out to Friskit to gain some understanding of his clientele.
In recent years, there has been an increased level of reports of people wearing bullet and stab-proof vests for their own protection. Last August, convicted killer Derek ‘Del Boy’ Hutch was photographed strolling through Dublin wearing body armour under his jacket. Gangland member James Gatley also credited his bullet-proof vest for saving his life when he was shot in the neck and upper body during an attempted assassination in 2017.