Charity clothes bin thieves slip by Garda computer net

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘The clothes bank robberies are crimes against the most vulnerable in this state and are also a multi-million-euro industry’

THE GARDA hi-tech computer cannot tell how many good causes are being fleeced by hoods robbing charity clothes bins, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has confessed to Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty.

The Donegal TD quizzed the Fine Gael minister after an RTÉ Prime Time probe by Paul Maguire showed criminal gangs stealing and re-selling clothes donated to charity. Last week there was a gangland murder in Dublin of a man suspected of being involved in the rag trade rip-offs.

Pearse Doherty asked Justice Minister Shatter how many thefts and where are they happening. Shatter said he doesn’t know and nor do police chiefs because of the way the PULSE computer system has been set up, adding:

“I am further informed that each offence would have to be examined manually to identify if it related to a clothes bank or not and would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to compile.”

Deputy Doherty told Star Political Correspondent Catherine Halloran that the Prime Time special showed how prolific raids on charity clothes banks are.

“The Garda Commissioner needs to issue clear guidelines on how these crimes should be recorded,” Pearse Doherty told The Star.

“We need to have proper intelligence on where these crimes are happening so we can identify any patterns and close in on the perpetrators.

“The clothes bank robberies are crimes against the most vulnerable in this state and are also a multi-million-euro industry.

“We need to ensure that those who are committing them know they will be caught and they will face justice.”