GARDAÍ HAVE ARRESTED two men in their 30s and 40s following reports of people distributing leaflets for a suspected fraudulent charity in the Annacotty area of Limerick yesterday.
 
Officers received a report of a possible bogus charity collection where people were calling to houses in the Annacotty area alleging they were raising money by collecting clothing.

Gardaí carried out a patrol of the area and two men were arrested, brought to Mayorstone Park Garda Station and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. They have since been released and a file will be prepared for the DPP.

Speaking at Henry Street Garda Station, Sergeant Ber Leetch said: ‘The community in Annacotty should be commended for this. Someone obviously didn’t think this was a genuine charity and phoned it in, which is exactly what we want to see.

“No genuine business or charity will mind you carrying out your own enquiries or calling An Garda Síochána.  If a person calls to your door offering you professional trade services, selling goods or collecting for a charity and you are worried they are not bona fide, tell the caller that you never deal with people who ‘cold call’ to your door.

“Ask for a brochure or documentation so you can carry out checks and verify their credibility. We always want to hear if there are people in the area who may be offering goods or services that are not genuine so don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call us.”