TD turns crimefighter as Deputy Dooley 'chases handbag thief'
Clare TD Timmy Dooley has been speaking about his attempt to chase what appeared to be a handbag thief.
Deputy Dooley returned the bag to its owner - after first blocking the man with his car and then following him on foot.
Gardaí say the incident occurred at about noon today on O'Connell Street in Ennis.
Deputy Dooley says its the first time he has witnessed an incident like this and he felt he was doing the right thing.
"I was just on my way back to the office, coming down the Clare Road, "he said.
"I noticed a young fella with a black jacket and a hood tightly wrapped around his head, a brown woman's leather bag in his hand, and he seemed to be running, so I kind of assumed that it had been taken.
"So I managed to get ahead of him with the car, pulled in, and confronted him.
"He turned around and ran, ran from me, and I gave chase.
"He dropped the bag as I was about to catch him."
