Gardaí in Galway are investigating a series of incidents involving bookmakers' shops in the city and county yesterday on one of the busiest days of the year at Ballybrit racecourse.
Staff working at some 15 bookmakers' premises in Galway city, Oranmore and Athenry found themselves shut out yesterday hours before the Galway Plate because matchsticks and superglue had been stuffed into the door locks.
Staff were forced to break the locks to enter the premises.
Gardaí said it seemed part of an organised campaign, and have appealed for witnesses.
Betting shop staff were being warned to spray oil on locks or buy anti-adhesive substances to prevent the superglue from setting in case of further attacks.
It was feared thousands of euro in takings could have been lost with the closure of shops during the popular Galway festival.
Betting shops in Galway and Dublin were targeted in a similar fashion around three years ago in the run-up to the Grand National.
It is understood animal rights activists opposed to greyhound and horse racing issued threats to bookmakers during the Cheltenham national hunt festival last March.
