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Dublin gang suspected of campaign of graffiti harassment and threats to garda injured in acid attack

The garda has been removed from his normal duties.

A SERVING DUBLIN garda who was the victim of an acid attack is being subjected to physical and verbal intimidation as well as having his name and address graffitied around Dublin, TheJournal.ie has learned.

In recent weeks, graffiti has been spotted in a number of locations including near Sean McDermott Street, Railway Street and Summerhill in Dublin’s north inner city. 

The Railway Street graffiti named the garda and called him “a rat”. Another referenced the town the man lives in and once again used his full name. 

A report was made to garda management when the initial graffiti was spotted by a garda on patrol. 

The garda member has been removed from his regular duties and has, in recent months, moved station. 

In the past two to three weeks, the man has been subjected to a number of verbal threats. One occurred around a fortnight ago when he made his way into the station where he is now based.  

Sources have told TheJournal.ie that the garda’s family has also been targeted. The garda’s work in Dublin’s north inner city focussing on drugs gangs has made him a victim of abuse, intimidation and physical violence.

In June of this year, the officer was driving home from work when his car was doused in what medics believe was an acidic solution. Officers believe this was carried out by a Lithuanian drugs gang, connected to the Dublin dealers suspected to be involved in the latest round of intimidation.

His car window was open at the time and he received some first-degree burn injuries as a result. He received treatment in a hospital and was discharged from medics’ care later that day.

It is understood that gardaí had conducted a number of raids on the criminal organisation prior to the officer initially receiving the threatening phone calls. Management believes it is more than likely that this incident was the catalyst for the threatening behaviour.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents rank-and-file members of An Garda Síochána, is aware of the threat to the officer’s life and has been offering him support. This includes lobbying management for the security upgrades to his home. 

Garda management said it can’t comment on an active investigation but said members are provided with support in situations like these.

A spokesman previously said: “In general terms, any incident of this nature is examined and depending on the circumstances Garda members are provided with support, including but not limited to, the appointment of Family Liaison Officers and personal and home security advice as appropriate.”

The GRA has called for minimum sentencing for those who attack members of the force.

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    Mute Margate
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:22 AM

    When one sees the levels of abuse levied towards An Garda Siochana as a whole – not just the ‘ bad eggs’ in the force- by the ordinary Joe Soap on here and elsewhere, I suspect we can also look closer to home to see the unacceptable treatment many, many are subjected to. The majority of Garda do a good job, and often in very tough circumstances. So is it any wonder “Others’ perceive it’s also ok to be abusive and disrespectful…

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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Oct 16th 2018, 7:31 AM

    @Margate: The headline is misleading. the was not injured by acid.

    25
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    Mute Darren Tully
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    Oct 16th 2018, 8:45 AM

    @Sean Conway: @Sean Conway: The article clearly states “His car window was open at the time and he received some first-degree burn injuries as a result.”

    Sounds very much like an injury to me. Jog on Sean

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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Oct 16th 2018, 8:50 AM

    @Darren Tully: Any excuse for a claim.

    8
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    Mute Vincent
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    Oct 16th 2018, 9:16 AM

    @Sean Conway: you condone?

    68
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    Mute Conor Boden
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    Oct 16th 2018, 10:51 AM

    @Sean Conway: are you incapable of reading past a headline?

    47
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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Oct 16th 2018, 11:44 AM

    @Conor Boden: Sorry. hadn’t the time to read it all.

    8
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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:11 PM

    @Margate: Pure animals these types no fear of the law they should see the cat and nine tails if you ask me.

    15
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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:11 PM

    @Sean Conway: people like you are the problem with this country. know nothing about nothing and yet seem obliged to comment negatively about everything

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    Mute David Rogers
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:56 PM

    @Sean Conway: Every time I see you’re name you being a contrarian.

    Are you ever happy?

    14
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    Mute Liam O’Conchubhair
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    Oct 16th 2018, 6:06 PM

    @Sean Conway: oh you absolute moron. It clearly states he was injured.

    11
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    Mute Daithi
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    Oct 16th 2018, 7:09 PM

    @Martin Gordon: Having the most corrupt police force in Europe also adds to the state of the country & for the record I don’t condone what happened him.

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    Mute Dáithí O Raghailaigh
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    Oct 16th 2018, 9:22 PM

    @Margate:there a gang from lithuania, why are they still here? deport them..

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Oct 16th 2018, 9:40 PM

    @Daithi: no water protests to go to?

    1
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    Mute Lisa Byrne
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:17 AM

    Once you start attacking the gardai, it an attack on societies safety and security, you attack the very foundations of law and civility, I wish we could name and shame the toe rags that are doing this, I wish their was vigilanti groups

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    Mute gary mullen
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:45 AM

    Weather you agree or disagree with the Garda in this country, weather they are corrupt or decent, none of them deserve to have acid or a corrosive substance thrown at them.

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    Mute PaulineSmith
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:12 AM

    They told us it was the Muslims we had to afraid of, turns out it was the European Christians.

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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:24 AM

    @PaulineSmith: These graffiti artists are home grown, who would gladly put your windows in for a tenner, getting a few bits and bobs off the other home growns, , they in turn get it from some other home growns who get it from the European Christians.
    it`s a total mudpit how deep this sort of stuff goes,
    Same in a lot of Estates throughout Ireland i`m afraid

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    Mute PaulineSmith
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:35 AM
    112
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:40 AM

    @PaulineSmith: You seriously trying to tell me, that Lithuanians drug gangs are doing their very own graffiti?,
    These “Graffiti artists” are a drip down effect of the whole thing,
    They`re not like a bunch of Banksy`s

    77
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    Mute PaulineSmith
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:47 AM

    @Pixie McMullen: So you’ve seen Irish teenagers doing the graffiti?

    28
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    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:01 AM

    @PaulineSmith: sure no Irish lad would ever put graffiti on the walls …

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    Mute Lisa Saputo
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    Oct 16th 2018, 11:55 AM

    @PaulineSmith: They’re in cahoots with Irish criminals. To be fair, the drugs trade is very much a homegrown industry in Ireland that is attracting the worst from all over Ireland and abroad.

    10
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    Mute Kevin James Merton
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:21 AM

    This “Gang” I’m sure are in for a rude Awakening 40 extra for the area. Clean sweep of the City is needed drugs on every street. Garda had a good project running in the North Inner City pity to see it currently curtailed due to part’s of the City now a No Go Area

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    Mute Blah blah
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    Oct 16th 2018, 7:03 AM

    Dublin North East Inner City is currently receiving the biggest injection of state funding in the history of the state, to over 400 state and voluntary agencies, as per the mulvey report. There is one street in the area that has its own youth garda diversion program, one street…in the rest of Ireland the minimum requirement is a population of 15000!!! Something has to change and one thing is the amount of money being given to these thugs in the area.
    No wonder the garda are wearing balaclavas. Here is a man trying to protect the area from dealers and drugs.

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    Mute Gerry Caden
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    Oct 16th 2018, 10:31 AM

    Deport any foreigners found to be law breakers. And yes, minimum mandatory jail sentences for attacks on state forces is the minimum protection police and army deserve.

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    Mute Yzo Sirrius
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    Oct 16th 2018, 11:06 AM

    @Gerry Caden: and would that include any type of law breaking? Traffic offenses and the likes?

    And if someone is foreign but now a citizen, how do you classify them?

    Would be nice to get some clarity on your ideas, just so we avoid any confusion.

    8
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    Mute angryDuck
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    Oct 16th 2018, 9:17 AM

    The Garda need to go after these thugs with gloves off. The army needs to deal with this Lithuanian gang. Take no prisoners!

    100
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    Mute Paul O'b
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    Oct 16th 2018, 10:23 AM

    @angryDuck: where’s the IRA when you need them! Ireland should be kept for Irish gangs!

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    Mute Ros Aodha
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    Oct 16th 2018, 11:05 AM

    And leftwingers rage here when they wear balaclavas!

    36
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    Mute Declan Leonard
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    Oct 16th 2018, 11:41 AM

    Time they got stuck into these b astards. Get in there faces and make life as awkward as possible like the tango squad did for the general

    35
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    Mute Tom Tom
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    Oct 16th 2018, 2:44 PM

    If ever there was a reason to not moan about guards wearing balaclavas, this is it.

    19
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    Mute Conor Boden
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    Oct 16th 2018, 10:54 AM

    Little Anto and his merry band of have-go-gangsters should not be protected by the communities which live in the area and hold vital information, even just “what I’ve heard” stuff, which should be passed to Gardai.

    20
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    Mute Greedylocks
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    Oct 16th 2018, 3:00 AM

    It’s about credabity, the state enforce law unless you can afford to defend yourself. It’s a wharped catch 22..

    17
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    Mute Martin David
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    Oct 16th 2018, 2:46 PM

    Calling a garda a “rat”. Some bright sparks in there

    17
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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Oct 16th 2018, 10:26 AM

    Members of a “gang”eh !!.
    Take just one of these rave boyo’s for a spin and have a chat with him.
    He would fold like a wet leaf and provide any details.

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    Mute Terry Burns
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    Oct 16th 2018, 2:18 AM

    Do what ot

    4
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    Mute Toby Thedogk
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    Oct 16th 2018, 8:51 AM

    @Terry Burns: Agree totally!

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    Mute Terry Burns
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    Oct 16th 2018, 2:21 AM

    I’m trying to

    3
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