This article is from page 4 of the 2014-02-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A WELL-KNOWN family business in Ennis was targeted by criminals on two occasions over the weekend.
Thieves stole a number of items after breaking into Guerin’s Shop in the Cornmarket area of the town in the early hours of Friday morning at last.
The burglary occurred sometime between 6pm on Thursday, January 30, and 7.30am on Friday, January 31.
It is thought an axe or other heavy implement was used to smash a hole in the front door.
A number of Gael Linn one euro lottery tickets, an amount of various brand cigarettes were all that was taken.
Temporary repairs were carried out on the door but the premises was again targeted just two nights later.
Between 3am and 6am on Monday, morning another attempt was made to gain entry to the shop by trying to force open the front door.
No entry was gained and nothing was stolen on this occasion.
A crow bar may have been used to prize loose a board covering the damage from the previous break in. It is thought the perpetrators may have been watching the shop in the days leading up the burglary.
It is believed they are from the Ennis area. Investigating gardaí are studying CCTV footage of the area and are following a definite line of inquiry.
They are urging anyone who may have seen anything on the nights in question to contact them at Ennis Garda Station.
Guerin’s has operated as a familyrun grocery shop in the Cornmarket area of the town since 1968/69.
It re-opened six years ago and has previously been the target of breakins.
Shop owner Clodagh Guerin said the latest incidents had a big impact on the family.
“It’s not just the financial cost of the damage caused and the things that were stolen, it’s the psychological cost also.
“You’re wondering is this going to happen again?” she said.
The building is the location for ‘The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door’ – a well-known Clare.