Galway Gardaí probe ‘protection racket’ claim by contractors

Building contractors working on behalf of the city have reported being approached by criminals who are attempting to extort money in return for protection.

The contractors developing the Westside Sports Campus are understood to have been approached by someone who demanded cash to protect the site, which has been targeted by thieves and vandals.

Crawford Sports Surfaces Limited signed contracts with Galway City Council in December to construct two pitches and an all-weather running track along the Seamus Quirke Road.

The contract was worth €1.7 million and the contractors moved on-site in January.

Since moving on-site, a number of items have been stolen, including signage and fencing. Damage was also caused to items at the site.

The contractors were allegedly approached by individuals who told them that the problem would ‘go away’ if they paid a certain amount of protection money.

The Council has confirmed to the mayor that the matter was referred to Gardaí.

Mayor Padraig Conneely, who is chairperson of the Galway City Joint Policing Committee, said it is worrying because racketeering, protection rackets and extortion are not commonplace in Galway.

“Any protection racket must be stamped out immediately,” he said.

“It’s something you’d associate more with Northern Ireland or America and programmes like The Sopranos and I wouldn’t like to see it get a foothold here in Galway.”

He added: “My information is someone was putting the squeeze on to get money off them in return for protecting the site. It is extortion, a protection racket, that is of concern.”

A Council spokesperson said: “The city manager is aware of an approach to the contractors on-site at the Westside Sports Campus in relation to the provision of security services”.

Gardaí do not comment on specific operations.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel.