I was on my regular two-leg train journey from Westport to Cork Kent recently when I finally spotted the conductor who helped me foil the robbery of my suitcase last October.

On that occasion I was travelling back west, and while the train was stopped in Athlone awaiting the arrival of a connecting train from Galway, I happened to look back to the luggage alcove and saw that my case had vanished.

Through the window, I spotted the green and red Mayo plait I had tied to its handle gently blowing in the breeze as it was about to disappear into oblivion.

I jumped onto the platform shouting a litany of expletives which fortunately stopped mo dhuine in his tracks. After a little melee, I grabbed my bag from him as he half-heartedly protested to the conductor. Being greeted with applause when I returned to my seat somewhat made up for the indignity.

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Nine months later, the same conductor now tells me that when Irish Rail staff examined the CCTV footage afterwards, it confirmed that the thief had got on the train bagless in Tullamore. When questioned he had given two different names and phone numbers: a bit of a giveaway.

As it turns out there was a spate of similar thefts of luggage around that time by a couple of different gangs, but a concerted effort by gardaí put a halt to........

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