Intruders caught in the act
By Maurice Garvey
INTRUDERS were caught in the act after breaking into the Sinn Féin constituency office of TD Aengus O’Snodaigh and Senator Maire Devine in Ballyfermot.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, March 20, at the party offices above Spar on Ballyfermot Road.
The Sinn Fein office in Ballyfermot
Two men broke in through the front door, and made their way upstairs to the constituency office, which contained laptops belonging to the two Dublin South Central politicians.
The Echo understands a resident heard the commotion and called gardai, who were on the scene within minutes.
“It could have been a lot worse,” said Deputy O’Snodaigh.
“The front door was damaged, but luckily gardai were on the scene and caught them in the act. The laptops were returned, which are encrypted but contain work files. We handed over the CCTV to gardai.
“We moved down to the new offices from up the road after the last election, and will be putting in new security. It was a rude awakening receiving calls at 4am in the morning, but I’d be more concerned they would target people’s homes and businesses.”
A Garda spokesperson told The Echo: “Gardai responded to a report of intruders at a premises on Ballyfermot Road, at approximately 4.40am on March 20. Two males were found on the premises. One male fled the scene while the other a man in his mid-30s was arrested and brought to Clondalkin Garda station.
“The arrested man was charged in relation to the incident and appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice at 4:30pm on March 20.”
The arrested man appeared in Cloverhill Court on Wednesday, charged with burglary and possession of a knife at the Sinn Féin offices.
He also faces a charge of violent behaviour in a garda station.
He was remanded in custody at Cloverhill prison and will appear before the court on April 10.
Gardai said investigations are ongoing in relation to the second male.
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