X factor fuel stolen from louis walshs family home

A GANG which thought it was siphoning home heating oil at the childhood home of pop mogul Louis Walsh in Kiltimagh got away instead with fuel which has an ‘X’ factor – aviation gasoline for a helicopter.

Gardaí have now warned the thieves it would be dangerous if they attempt to use the highly flammable fuel in a central heating boiler or sell it on for such purposes, writes Tom Shiel.

Louis Walsh’s mother, Maureen, was not at home around 2 p.m. on Tuesday of last week (November 11) when intruders broke into a shed at the rear of her home and stole a quantity of aviation fuel, apparently believing it to be central heating oil.

A family member raised the alarm and the raiders fled the scene in a 1998 registered Mitsubishi car.

The aviation fuel was being stored in the shed by one of Mrs. Walsh’s sons, Joe, a director of Connacht Helicopters Limited. Joe, a businessman, regularly lands and takes off in the vicinity.

Apparently focussed and very determined in their bid to steal home heating oil and nothing else, the two-man gang ignored power tools and other items in the shed.

Inspector Shane Cummins of the Claremorris Garda District has appealed for anybody who might have information about the theft to come forward. “The aviation fuel involved is highly inflammable and it would be dangerous to use it for any other purpose than the one it was intended for,” the Inspector stated.

In recent years, as the price of domestic heating oil has soared, the theft of the product has risen accordingly. Gardaí have warned householders to be vigilant and say the thieves involved have become very professional, some of them travelling around in large vans with siphoning equipment.