Naval Service fired twice as ship carrying drugs tried to flee
Gardaí believe a bulk carrier that Army Ranger Wing members were winched on to in stormy conditions on Tuesday is carrying cocaine worth at least tens of millions of euros.
A number of sources told The Irish Times it was possible the haul was worth well in excess of €100 million, though that would only become clear when the boat was properly searched in Cobh, Co Cork on Wednesday.
The large vessel – the Panamanian-registered MV Matthew – was attempting to flee when the Naval Service’s LÉ William Butler Yeats and Air Corps helicopters closed in on it off the Co Cork coast on Tuesday.
Top News Stories
- Up to 100 fans faced ‘difficulties’ gaining admission to Ireland-South Africa match: The organiser of the Rugby World Cup has confirmed that up to 100 fans “experienced difficulties” getting into Ireland’s match against South Africa in Paris last weekend and admitted it did not yet know what was behind the problems.
- Student dropout rates in Irish colleges climb amid ‘perfect storm’ of Covid disruption: Student dropout rates climbed across all third level colleges during the 2020-21 academic year, against the backdrop of a “perfect storm” of Covid disruption and disengagement linked to online learning.
- Ireland weather: Met Éireann warns of ‘whole day’ weather event with arrival of Storm Agnes: Met Éireann has warned of a “whole day” weather event from just before dawn on Wednesday and extended its status orange wind warning to a further five counties.
- Almost €6.8m owed in derelict site levies in Dublin city: Unpaid levies of almost €6.8 million are owed to Dublin City Council from the owners of more than 100 derelict properties, new figures show.
- Plans to introduce alcohol breath-test devices that stop vehicles from starting if driver is over limit: A personal alcohol breath-test device for drivers that automatically prevents a vehicle from starting if the individual is over the limit could be introduced in the State before the end of 2024.
- Happening today: The Garda Representative Organisation meets over rosters, a three-day strike by some childcare providers continues until September 28th while senior gardaí and the Road Safety Authority will appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee to discuss road safety.
News from around the World
- Donald Trump found liable for fraud in New York civil case: Donald Trump and his family business were found liable for fraud on Tuesday by a New York judge in state Attorney General Letitia James’ civil lawsuit. Accusing the former US president of illegally inflating his assets and net worth by as much as $3.6 billion.
- Canada’s parliamentary speaker resigns after inviting man who fought for a Nazi unit: The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons has resigned after inviting a man who fought for a Nazi military unit during the Second World War to Parliament to attend a speech by the Ukrainian president. Mr Rota introduced Mr Hunka as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.
The Big Read
- How Ireland’s lack of naval patrols attracts drug smugglers: Ireland is increasingly viewed as a backdoor smuggling route for drug traffickers looking to tap into the European market. The Garda and Defence Forces surveillance operation put in place to track the Castlemore trawler and a much bigger container vessel off the Irish coast in recent days represents just the latest chapter in the international battle against drug smuggling, writes Conor Lally.
The best from Opinion
- Dublin City Council is the only thing standing in the way of a beautiful capital: There has been a lot of commentary in these pages and elsewhere in relation to urban dereliction in Dublin, and the piecemeal and inadequate response to the consequences. To put one matter out of the way immediately, there is no – absolutely no – constitutional issue based on a property rights argument in tackling dereliction, underutilisation, or inordinate delay in the case of urban land, writes Michael McDowell.
Culture and Life & Style highlights
- ‘In the early 20th century Irish families lived in bedsits. Now we have 10 or 12 students or migrants in one small apartment’: Emilio Maira moved to Ireland in September 2020. Growing up in a small mining town in the north of Spain, he saw how dangerous his family’s work could be, and learned the importance of being in a union.
- Brianna Parkins: The Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner divorce has it all – revenge, Taylor Swift and PR Spin: The story has it all – public relations spinning, counter spinning, strategy, revenge and Taylor Swift. A celebrity divorce that has drawn comparison to Game of Thrones due to apparent displays of underhanded tactics and power.
Today's Business
- Consumers face high green electricity prices after latest auction: Homes and businesses face increased bills for future renewable electricity following the latest round of supply contracts awarded by the State to solar and onshore wind generators.
- Submitting your tax returns: What mistakes do you need to avoid?: The upside to being a self-employed freelancer is that you get to be your own boss. The downside is that you also have to be your boss – plus your own human relations manager, business development manager and finance department, writes Brianna Parkins.
Top Sports news
- Gordon D’Arcy: Ireland need knockout-round mindset for remaining Rugby World Cup matches: Shane Lowry provided one of my favourite quotes in sport when he suggested that “everyone tells you how to get to the top of the mountain, but no one ever tells you how to get down the other side”.
- Ryder Cup 2023 - everything you need to know: When and where is it on, how can I watch it all and what is the format? All your questions answered.
Martyn Turner
Letters to the Editor
Overreaction to far-right provocations
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Crucial weekend in election campaign as bland as an Uncle Colm monologue on Derry Girls
Sir, – Is it not amazing how semantics can charge the whole meaning of a protest? Those whose protests are for alleged liberal ideals such as Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion, or whatever, are seen as warriors yet those who may be for maintaining conservative ideals are seen as far-right extremists who must therefore be dealt with. We do not call those we support extremists, even though their actions such as blocking roads, throwing dye or defacing buildings are extreme in their execution. Both take sides that the other is against yet we choose to name-call those that we do not like. – Yours, etc,
JOHN BERGIN, Oxton, Wirral, UK.
Video & Podcast Highlights
- In the News: Murders have doubled - but is Ireland really more dangerous?: We look behind new CSO crime statistics
Review of the day
- We Need to Talk: At the height of the early lockdowns, Dr Tony Holohan’s stature was such that murals were painted in his honour. In his new memoir, he doesn’t shy away from saying when he felt let down by others.
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