The Garda Podcast

In this episode, Detective Superintendent Joe O’Reilly of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau takes us behind the MV Matthew operation. The previous Garda Podcast episode - EP 26, outlines the timeline of the MV Matthew interdiction and subsequent conviction of eight men. Background: On September 23 2023, a Panama flagged cargo ship called the MV Mathew entered Irish territorial waters, having set off from Curacao, an island off the coast of Venezuela. Unbeknownst to its crew, suspicions about the ship’s activities had been communicated by international intelligence agencies to An Garda Síochána’s Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. The ship was being monitored, with the belief that its cargo may contain illegal drugs. On September 22nd, the day before the MV Matthew entered Irish waters, two men, bought a fishing trawler called the FV Castlemore in West Cork. The activities of the crews on board both vessels would result in a dramatic joint task force operation carried out at sea in gale force winds and would lead to the largest drug seizure in the history of the State. The seizure of devices and the interception of messages between both sea fairing crews and their criminal gang members on land, led to the conviction and sentencing of eight men – six from the MV Matthew and two from the Castlemore trawler.

On September 23 2023, a Panama flagged cargo ship called the MV Mathew entered Irish territorial waters, having set off from Curacao, an island off the coast of Venezuela. Unbeknownst to its crew, suspicions about the ship’s activities had been communicated by international intelligence agencies to An Garda Síochána’s Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. The ship was being monitored, with the belief that its cargo may contain illegal drugs. On September 22nd, the day before the MV Matthew entered Irish waters, two men, bought a fishing trawler called the FV Castlemore in West Cork. The activities of the crews on board both vessels would result in a dramatic joint task force operation carried out at sea in gale force winds and would lead to the largest drug seizure in the history of the State. The seizure of devices and the interception of messages between both sea fairing crews and their criminal gang members on land, led to the conviction and sentencing of eight men – six from the MV Matthew and two from the Castlemore trawler. The radio and phone conversations you hear in this podcast are real.

The Garda Armed Support Unit, also known as the ASU, is a specialist firearms and tactics unit in An Garda Síochána. In this episode, ASU member, Garda Emma Henebery takes us inside this highly skilled unit. This episode contains some discussions about suicide and self-harm. If you are affected by anything you hear in this podcast, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 or Pieta on 1800 247 274. In an emergency, call 112 or 999.

In this episode, we go on the beat with two Gardaí based in Pearse Street Garda station. Find out what city policing is like during a high visibility foot patrol.

Our Serious Crime Review Team, often referred to as the Cold Case Unit is tasked with reviewing historical cases, many of them high profile, such as the case of Jo Jo Dullard, Sophie Toscan du Plantier and a recent review in to the Stardust tragedy. In this episode, Detective Superintendent Des McTiernan takes us behind the scenes of this highly specialised and experienced team who are determined to get justice for victims and their families.