Irish RHA fight hijacks
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• Irish Road Haulage Association president Sheila McCabe is calling on the Department of Justice for a special police force to be set up to help combat the recent spate of hijackings in the Irish Republic.
She warns that unless action is taken soon to stop armed gangs hijacking trucks the price of food, drink and cigarettes will rise as hauliers pass on the extra cost of security systems needed for highvalue cargoes.
She wants a Garda task force to be set up as soon as possible to protect truckers from the threat of criminals who have been targeting one vehicle a month in the Dublin and border country areas.
McCabe says the threat of hijacking is becoming so serious that many of her members are refusing to stop in isolated areas or when travelling at night.
The Irish RHA has also launched a campaign to rid the Irish roads of cowboys. It wants more powers for enforcement agencies, such as allowing them to issue prohibition notices.
Around 25% of trucks are operating illegally, says McCabe, giving them an unfair advantage over the country's 4,000 licensed operators