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Dawn raid wreaks terror on Irish Travellers’ site
By Fiona Audley
 HUNDREDS
of police officers stormed an Irish Travellers’ site in the early
hours of the morning leaving unsuspecting residents and their children
terrified as caravans were torn apart.
A total of 380 officers armed with guns, sniffer-dogs and a tractor —
used to bulldoze through a wall to the compound — took part in the
raid at the Lynton Close site owned by Brent council in Neasden, north
London.
Two men in their 20s were arrested for drugs and stolen property offences
and 34 wraps of cocaine were seized during the operation — which
began at 3.15am on Friday, March 14 and continued well into the afternoon.
Eight of the site’s 32 pitches were raided under Brent Police’s
Operation Alarch, while some of their residents were detained in a bus
guarded by officers.
Three pit bull-type dogs were also seized from the site.
Lead officer Superintendent Mark Goldby said: “These arrests have
been the culmination of a lengthy operation to target those who we believe
are involved in serious criminal activities, some of which include firearms
and drugs offences.”
Families living at the site told of their fear when the police teams arrived
unannounced in the middle of the night.
Brigid Corcoran explained how she and husband Stephen awoke to “sounds
like gunshots”.
The 31-year-old said: “We heard these massive bangs like gunshots
and the next thing we knew there were five officers charging through our
caravan, it was terrifying.
“My two-year-old was in the bed with us and saw them put my husband
to the floor and hold a gun to his head.
“They tore our caravan apart, smashed every window and trashed our
kitchen and we were forced to stay still for an hour as they did it.”
Brigid’s daughters, aged 13 and 10, were asleep in an adjoining
caravan but the distraught mother could not reach them until the search
was finished.
She said: “I knew they would be petrified but I was not allowed
out to them, I think it’s disgusting the way we were treated —
I don’t even know where we can sleep tonight.”
Nothing was found at the Corcoran’s plot and the family now plan
to lodge a complaint.
Brigid added: “They have caused so much damage here and it wasn’t
necessary. I would have let them in to search the place, they didn’t
have to do it like this.
“My children are traumatised, we were humiliated and they have ruined
our home so we have spoken to a solicitor.”
Neighbour Margaret Corcoran, 51, also told how she, her partner, their
four daughters and six-month old grandson woke to armed policemen bursting
through their caravan door.
She said: “We have lived here for 12 years and have never seen anything
like this before, it was frightening.
“My house is in a mess and the girls are still scared to come back
in — I dread to think the effect this is going to have on them.”
A police spokesperson added: “We have yet to receive any complaints
but if we do they will be fully investigated.” |
