Evidence Burnt Out

[sutoka]

So there has been a paramilitary linked drugs feud happening in Costa del Newtownards, Northern Ireland over the past few weeks. Last week a group of four in a BMW X5 attacked a man in a shopping centre. The PSNI stopped the car heading out of town and arrested four men for assault, GBH etc. The car was seized as evidence and taken about a mile away for a forensic examination at the PSNI station. Turns out it was actually just taken and parked outside the PSNI station rather than kept in a secure compound.

Someone came along and torched it, so either the police are completely incompetent or as many have suggested it was deliberately left outside knowing it would be torched and all potential evidence against informants destroyed. Also the PSNI have commented that their military grade CCTV outside the station wasn't working at the time. Honestly you could not make this up.

https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-04-03/car-seized...

[NikBartlett]

Most likely utter incompetence but could be an elaborate honeypot trap to attract other parts of the gang. My bet is on the former.

[trashbat]

The arsonists don't appear to have done a very good job either though, do they?

[over_the_hill]

Sounds like they need this guy

[eldar]

sutoka said:

So there has been a paramilitary linked drugs feud happening in Costa del Newtownards, Northern Ireland over the past few weeks. Last week a group of four in a BMW X5 attacked a man in a shopping centre. The PSNI stopped the car heading out of town and arrested four men for assault, GBH etc. The car was seized as evidence and taken about a mile away for a forensic examination at the PSNI station. Turns out it was actually just taken and parked outside the PSNI station rather than kept in a secure compound.

Someone came along and torched it, so either the police are completely incompetent or as many have suggested it was deliberately left outside knowing it would be torched and all potential evidence against informants destroyed. Also the PSNI have commented that their military grade CCTV outside the station wasn't working at the time. Honestly you could not make this up.

https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-04-03/car-seized...

Was this after the police had finished the examination and returned the car to the owner as the article implies? If so, slightly different spin.

[spitfire-ian]

eldar said:

sutoka said:

So there has been a paramilitary linked drugs feud happening in Costa del Newtownards, Northern Ireland over the past few weeks. Last week a group of four in a BMW X5 attacked a man in a shopping centre. The PSNI stopped the car heading out of town and arrested four men for assault, GBH etc. The car was seized as evidence and taken about a mile away for a forensic examination at the PSNI station. Turns out it was actually just taken and parked outside the PSNI station rather than kept in a secure compound.

Someone came along and torched it, so either the police are completely incompetent or as many have suggested it was deliberately left outside knowing it would be torched and all potential evidence against informants destroyed. Also the PSNI have commented that their military grade CCTV outside the station wasn't working at the time. Honestly you could not make this up.

https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-04-03/car-seized...

Was this after the police had finished the examination and returned the car to the owner as the article implies? If so, slightly different spin.

Indeed.

Article said:

They added: "It was subsequently released and arrangements made with the owner to have it collected.

It goes on to say the arson is a separate investigation.

[Fozziebear]

Could have been worse, The Guard could of been involved

[sospan]

Damage to one wheel. Car returned to owner.
Where is there evidence of a “ burnt out” car? Looks like a case of Chinese whisper comments with big assumptions rather than accurate facts!

[Wafu7]

over_the_hill said:

Sounds like they need this guy

Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey…

[Greendubber]

eldar said:

sutoka said:

So there has been a paramilitary linked drugs feud happening in Costa del Newtownards, Northern Ireland over the past few weeks. Last week a group of four in a BMW X5 attacked a man in a shopping centre. The PSNI stopped the car heading out of town and arrested four men for assault, GBH etc. The car was seized as evidence and taken about a mile away for a forensic examination at the PSNI station. Turns out it was actually just taken and parked outside the PSNI station rather than kept in a secure compound.

Someone came along and torched it, so either the police are completely incompetent or as many have suggested it was deliberately left outside knowing it would be torched and all potential evidence against informants destroyed. Also the PSNI have commented that their military grade CCTV outside the station wasn't working at the time. Honestly you could not make this up.

https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-04-03/car-seized...

Was this after the police had finished the examination and returned the car to the owner as the article implies? If so, slightly different spin.

So a total non-event then.

[trevt]

Having been in N'Ards last week I was following the story and have continued to do so as i have family there. I'd suggest reading something like the Belfast Telegraph for the full story.

From the photo it's clear the BMW was left, for collection after examination, outside Dundonald police station - about 10+ miles away.

Haven't always been impressed with PSNI or its predecessor but had a lot of sympathy over this and how they contained it with the thugs community. They're not paramilitary, they're simple drug dealer scum

[sutoka]

trevt said:

Having been in N'Ards last week I was following the story and have continued to do so as i have family there. I'd suggest reading something like the Belfast Telegraph for the full story.

From the photo it's clear the BMW was left, for collection after examination, outside Dundonald police station - about 10+ miles away.

Haven't always been impressed with PSNI or its predecessor but had a lot of sympathy over this and how they contained it with the thugs community. They're not paramilitary, they're simple drug dealer scum

It was left outside a station which is the main road from Belfast into Newtownards about 4.5 miles away

Also have to laugh at your last statement, they don't contain loyalist paramilitaries at all they go about their business in full view of the PSNI. The only time the thuggery stops in these areas is when they funnel money into community projects and make the thugs community workers. Then the funding runs out and it's back to selling drugs.

[Dingu]

Was the misrepresentation of facts in the OP incompetence or deliberate skewing of the truth?

[AyBee]

Dingu said:

Was the misrepresentation of facts in the OP incompetence or deliberate skewing of the truth?

Suspect the OP is a conspiracy theorist.

[trevt]

sutoka said:

It was left outside a station which is the main road from Belfast into Newtownards about 4.5 miles away

Also have to laugh at your last statement, they don't contain loyalist paramilitaries at all they go about their business in full view of the PSNI. The only time the thuggery stops in these areas is when they funnel money into community projects and make the thugs community workers. Then the funding runs out and it's back to selling drugs.

I'll give you 4 1/2 miles Dundonald to Ards - felt a lot further last time i walked it (30+ years ago) - i know both well enough from that period in my life.

As for not containing loyalist paramilitaries here ain't the place for that though we may even agree. But for the initial two coppers confronted with the thugs Thursday did what they could.

I agree the cycle needs to be broken by giving the young ones community projects and real jobs. Much the same as in any town or city.

But my real point, these are simply criminals and thugs, don't dress them as anything else.