Irish criminals with connections to gangster Cyril McGuinness are at the centre of a multi-million euro machinery ring targeting Irish and European farmers and machinery dealers.
Under Operation Macrups, Irish and Belgian police are investigating the organised gang.
“The thefts include stolen agriculture and plant machinery, some of which we believe has been exported to Ireland and the UK,” a Garda source from the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit told the Irish Farmers Journal.
European arrest warrants have been issued for key figures in the gang who were known associates of the notorious criminal Cyril McGuinness before his death in November 2019. McGuinness was a key suspect in the kidnapping and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) director Kevin Lunney.
One of the warrants has been issued for Noel McPhillips. McPhillips and his brother Damien are known in the criminal underworld as The Twins. Both men have previous convictions for tractor and machinery theft.
Victims of the gang include Irish and European farmers and machinery dealers, with one Dutch contractors’ union claiming Irish criminals have stolen €2.1m worth of equipment.
Read more
Irish gang behind European machinery theft ring
Irish gang at centre of machinery ring
How is machinery stolen by criminals?
Tractors stolen with key inside
Irish criminals with connections to gangster Cyril McGuinness are at the centre of a multi-million euro machinery ring targeting Irish and European farmers and machinery dealers.
Under Operation Macrups, Irish and Belgian police are investigating the organised gang.
“The thefts include stolen agriculture and plant machinery, some of which we believe has been exported to Ireland and the UK,” a Garda source from the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit told the Irish Farmers Journal.
European arrest warrants have been issued for key figures in the gang who were known associates of the notorious criminal Cyril McGuinness before his death in November 2019. McGuinness was a key suspect in the kidnapping and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) director Kevin Lunney.
One of the warrants has been issued for Noel McPhillips. McPhillips and his brother Damien are known in the criminal underworld as The Twins. Both men have previous convictions for tractor and machinery theft.
Victims of the gang include Irish and European farmers and machinery dealers, with one Dutch contractors’ union claiming Irish criminals have stolen €2.1m worth of equipment.
Read more
Irish gang behind European machinery theft ring
Irish gang at centre of machinery ring
How is machinery stolen by criminals?
Tractors stolen with key inside
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