The Garda operation in the midlands yesterday was targeting a Dublin gang led by a well-known criminal in his mid-fifties who has served a number of jail sentences.
He was not present at either Urlingford or Abbeyleix yesterday, but garda∅ believe he has been directing the gang of young criminals from south Dublin, who have been carrying out robberies in the city and in the midlands in recent months. The gang is thought to have been particularly attracted to large amounts of cash in transit that have been taking place before the arrival of the euro.
There has been an upsurge in armed robberies on banks and security vans in Dublin and surrounding counties this year. One security firm alone has had 28 of its vans held up and robbed.
It is believed that up to four gangs from Dublin, two from the Finglas and Blanchardstown area and two from the south-west of the city have been very active this year.
One of the south Dublin gangs escaped with £80,000 from a security van at Leopardstown Racecourse on November 9th, after threatening the security men with a sawn-off shotgun. Garda∅ have been very concerned about the violent tactics of the young robbers and have become increasingly worried that injuries or death could occur.
On November 16th the Garda announced it was setting up a special unit to counter the gangs. Members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (MNBCI) began to gather information on the gangs. This specifically involved members of the Garda's undercover surveillance section, the National Surveillance Unit (NSU).
Det Sgt John Eiffe, who died yesterday, was a member of the unit, which is attached to the crime and security branch at Garda headquarters.
The unit has been centrally involved in operations against dissident republican groups and is regarded as having a considerable success record in intercepting and stopping both terrorists and criminals.
The NSU works closely with the armed specialists of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
The NSU has been switched to "Operation Discovery" against the armed Dublin criminal gangs because the Garda believes there will be a rise in robberies in the coming two months as the euro is introduced. Large amounts of currency are being withdrawn from circulation as the euro is introduced.
The older criminals behind the young raiders are believed to be trying to raise money to finance drug trafficking.