Gardaí make breakthrough in robbery investigations

GARDAÍ have made a breakthrough in their investigations into the theft of home heating oil in the Ballina area.

Eight 10 gallon drums of suspected stolen kerosene heating oil was discovered when gardai stopped a car at Roches Terrace in the early hours of Wednesday week last (January 20).

Gardaí have appealed for anyone who may have spotted a silver Ford Focus type vehicle in suspicious circumstances in Ballina from midnight onwards on January 20 to contact them at (096) 20560.

Gardaí in Ballina have also recovered a pump stolen from a quarry in Crossmolina.

The discovery of the unit, which is valued in the region of €10,000, was made on Sunday after gardaí obtained a warrant at a special court in Castlebar on Saturday to search property on the outskirts of Ballina.

The missing pump device was stolen from Naughton’s Quarry in Crossmolina earlier in the week.

Garda investigations into the matter are continuing.

A man appeared at a special court sitting in Castlebar on Saturday charged with burglaries in the Ballina area as well as a number of thefts in Castlebar on Friday afternoon.

The suspect, a native of Derry, was remanded in custody by Judge Seamus Hughes to appear before Harristown Court (Castlerea Prison) on Friday next.