SWIFT ACTION Gardaí removing a vehicle from the village of Murrisk which they suspected had been involved in theft and fraud incident earlier on Sunday in Westport.?Pic Conor McKeown
Pilgrims climb Reek after spot of shoplifting and fraud
Trail of litter leads to culprits
Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie
Pilgrims from Dublin who came to Mayo to climb Croagh Patrick shoplifted over €150 worth of goods and used counterfeit money to pay for food before setting off up the holy mountain.
Traditionally pilgrims who climb Croagh Patrick do so as penance for their sins and maybe that is what the group who committed the crimes in Westport had in their minds when they set off up the mountain.
The offences took place in the new Supermac’s and Mace forecourt convenience store at Sheeaune, Westport.
A Garda spokesperson took The Mayo News that a group of up to four people entered the premises on Sunday afternoon and stole around €150 worth of goods, which included a number of toiletries. Food from the Supermac’s restaurant was paid for with counterfeit €50 notes.
The Gardaí were subsequently contacted by members of staff, and after viewing CCTV, they went in search of the Toyota car believed to have been involved in the crime. The gardaí travelled towards Murrisk after noticing a trail of litter they believed was thrown from the car. They then noticed the Toyota parked beside Murrisk Abbey.
There was nobody in the car, but the gardaí noticed the items believed to have been taken from the Mace shop. The car was seized and brought to Westport Garda station. Later that evening, the owner of the car went to the Garda station to retrieve it. When asked about the goods, he confessed straight away. The goods were recovered and a file is now being prepared for the DPP.
HAVE YOUR SAY email antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie with your comments