Circuit court date for man charged with theft of JCB and endangering gardaí
Further charges are expected
A CLONEGAL man was last week sent forward to the next sitting of Carlow Circuit Court to face charges of stealing a JCB and of endangering lives. Martin Cunningham, Craan Cottage, Clonegal was charged with seven offences in relation to a series of incidents that occurred across counties Carlow and Kildare on 5 March.
Last Wednesday in Carlow District Court, Detective Garda Kieran Shields gave evidence of formally charging Mr Cunningham with the offences and that he said “no reply” when each one was put to him.
Garda Caroline O’Malley then served the defendant with a book of evidence, with Judge Geraldine Carthy sending him forward to appear before Carlow Circuit Court on 20 May.
Mr Cunningham is charged with the unauthorised taking of a JCB, a charge of theft and five charges of ‘driving a JCB in a dangerous manner and in a manner to include endangerment by carrying out manoeuvres that caused danger to gardaí in pursuit of the JCB’ in counties Carlow and Kildare.
State solicitor Brendan O’Flaherty told Judge Carthy that other charges were coming down the line for Mr Cunningham in relation to the incidents that occurred on 5 March, including 11 dangerous driving charges, and that they would be dealt with “in due course”.
Judge Geraldine Carthy gave Mr Cunningham (43) an alibi warning, meaning he has to inform the prosecution if he is going rely on an alibi and remanded him in continuing custody until tomorrow, Wednesday, when further charges are expected to be brought against him.
