Bail refused to two men found beside stolen car in Myshall
Carlow Courthouse Photo: Michael O'Rourke
FOLLOWING a spate of thefts, two men arrested beside a stolen vehicle in the early hours of Wednesday morning were refused bail at Carlow District Court after a garda warned of a “high likelihood of reoffending” in both cases.
Liam Walsh, Drumcairn Green, Fettercairn, Tallaght, who faces three charges of section 4 theft, five counts of handling stolen property and two road traffic offences, including driving a stolen vehicle, was arrested and charged early on Wednesday morning, making no reply to the charge.
A garda objected to bail under section 2 of the , citing the “serious nature of the matter”. The court heard that the 23-year-old was arrested in Mayshall beside a vehicle he allegedly stole and that footage existed of the vehicle allegedly being involved in incidents of theft.
A large quantity of stolen property, including a substantial number of tools, was recovered from the vehicle and some injured parties had since identified items as theirs.
Mr Walsh’s solicitor Joe Farrell argued that his client was welcome at his mother’s home and was hoping to act as her carer as she suffers from Crohn’s Disease and requires home help. Mr Farrell also told the court that his client had suffered an acquired brain injury while young and was “willing to adhere to any conditions in terms of curfew and sign-on”.
When Mr Farrell asked whether this gave the gardaí any comfort, the reply was simply: “No.”
Judge Fiona Brennan noted that the ‘O’Callaghan Rules’ were not being applied and that “the itself is not something the court can address”.
Mr Walsh was remanded in custody to appear by video link for directions from the DPP.
Co-accused Alan Ring, Blackditch Rd, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, who was arrested and charged in Myshall at the same time as Mr Walsh, also had bail refused at the same sitting following a separate section 2 objection.
Mr Ring was arrested beside a crashed orange Ford Ranger that he allegedly had stolen. The 35-year-old faces four charges of section 4 theft, five charges of handling stolen property and one charge of commandeering a stolen vehicle. Mr Ring had been granted bail on Monday, but that bail was the subject of the objection heard on Wednesday.
His barrister, Eamonn O’Moore, told the court that Mr Ring was “struggling with matters” and was “attempting to enter treatment” for addiction issues. Mr O’Moore asked whether conditions such as twice daily sign-on might alleviate concerns.
In closing, Mr O’Moore said: “What’s there is what’s there. I can only say he would adhere to any condition. He is someone with admitted difficulties and, no matter how onerous the conditions are, including entering into treatment, he would adhere to these.”
Judge Brennan said that she was satisfied to refuse bail under section 2 of the . Mr Ring was remanded in custody to appear by video link on 25 February.
