Gardai investigating a series of attacks along the Grand Canal in west Dublin have arrested a man and a boy for questioning.
The arrests were made yesterday and relate to an attack
last Friday morning during which a cyclist riding to work along the canal
cycleway was stopped and threatened with a knife.
The cyclist was forced to hand over his phone and bank
card and was threatened with the knife until he told the group of attackers
what his PIN code was.
Gardai have said the attackers then used the bank card
and PIN number to withdraw a sum of money from the cyclist’s account.
A statement from the Garda said a man and boy were
arrested yesterday morning for questioning about that attack in Ballyfermot,
with other recent similar incidents also under investigation.
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“The arrests come after a number of thefts were reported
along the Grand Canal on the 1st and 5th of this month,” the Garda statement
said.
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“In one such incident, on Friday 5th February 2021, at
approximately 7am, a man who was cycling to work was stopped and threatened by
three men who had approached him.
“A knife was produced and the victim forced to hand over
his mobile phone and bankcard, along with disclosing his PIN details. A
quantity of cash was subsequently taken from his account.
In response to this, a Garda operation was initiated in
the area. At 6.15am, this morning, 9th February 2021, Gardaí from Ballyfermot
prevented an attempted robbery near Park West.
“Following on from this, a man (20 years) and a male
youth were arrested at a nearby location. They are currently detained at
Clondalkin and Ballyfermot Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal
Justice Act 1984. Investigations remain ongoing.
“Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have information
concerning other incidents in the area to come forward to them. In particular,
persons who were near the vicinity of the Grand Canal between 6-7am on Monday
1st February 2021 and Friday 5th February 2021.”
Anyone with information can contact Ballyfermot Garda station at 01 666 7200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
News of the latest incidents follows a series of attacks and robberies, many of them targeting cyclists, along the same stretch of canal in recent years.
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