Garda warning over grey van selling furniture

GARDAI are warning the public about a grey transit van that has been travelling throughout West Cork in recent days, calling door-to-door selling furniture. 

They issued the alert on Tuesday and called for all further sightings of the van, with English plates, to be reported to gardai. 

The warning, shared on The Southern Star’s Facebook page, prompted further warnings from the public as many claimed the van was spotted in Skibbereen, Castletownbere, Caheragh and Bantry. 

One post said they were selling kitchen knives, with others saying that power washers and generators were on offer. As well as calling to houses, it’s believed that the male occupants were trying to sell out of the back of their van. 

Meanwhile, a number of collisions occurred in the locality this week. Gardaí are investigating a two-car collision at 8.30am on Tuesday in Coolmoreen, Innishannon. One of the drivers, a woman in her 50s, was brought to Cork University Hospital (CUH) with non-life threatening injuries. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact Bandon Garda Station.

A second two-car crash happened on Wednesday morning at 7.45am at Airport Hill, Kinsale Road. The driver and passenger of one of the vehicles were brought to CUH with minor injuries. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact Togher Garda Station.

Meanwhile, a former mayor of Skibbereen is highlighting a dog rehoming scam which saw her friend threatened, and losing €200. 

Karen Coakley, who is currently based in Killarney, explained how her friend, also residing in Killarney, had placed an ad online looking for a new home for her dog. She felt she hadn’t the time to give to the dog and was offering the animal free of charge to a good home. 

A man from Newcastlewest in Co Limerick responded and Karen’s friend brought the dog to him. 

‘But soon after he started messaging her that he’d shoot the dog unless she paid him €200,’ she said. 

‘He sounded very intimidating. She really felt he was going to act on his threats and so she felt she had no option but to get the dog and pay out the cash,’ she said. 

Karen said her friend naturally felt a little ‘stupid’ for falling for the scam, and didn’t want to speak out. 

‘She thought she was doing the right thing. But I want to warn others to be vigilant that this kind of behaviour is out there,’ she said. 

The matter, she said, had been reported to gardai. A garda source in West Cork said he hadn’t heard of any such stunt being pulled in this area.