Fourteen due in court as part of Garda crackdown following retail burglaries in north Dublin

The crackdown comes as part of An Garda Síochána’s newly launched ‘Operation Táirge’ which will see Gardaí nationwide work to reduce organised retail crime

• 22:42, 14 DEC 2023
• Updated22:44, 14 DEC 2023

A total of 14 people will appear in court on Friday as part of a major Garda crackdown on retail rime.

It comes after a series of robberies across the the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North Division. A total of 14 individuals, including two juveniles (13 males and one female), will appear before Dublin District Courts on Friday.

The individuals face a total of 23 charges. One further person has already been arrested and charged in relation to these investigations and has appeared before the courts.

Gardai say that offences involved violence, with offenders using weapons such as knives and sharp implements, inducing fear and panic among victims. In one case, petrol was poured onto a counter within a retail premise to invoke fear. The targeted premises are all commercial, varying in business type and geographical spread across the Division.

The garda crackdown on retail crime comes as a result of Operation Táirge. A Garda spokesman said: “This operation has led to the arrest of a total of 15 individuals connected to 20 separate incidents, resulting in 23 charges being brought before the Courts.

“Of these, 20 charges are related to robbery, and an additional 3 charges pertain to the production of an article during these robberies.

“The investigation remains ongoing, with anticipated further arrests and charges in the coming weeks.”