Four men appear in court after Garda chase connected to burglary probe
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association
Four men arrested after a Garda car chase have appeared in court charged in connection with investigations into a spate of burglaries.
Luke Wall, 23, of Brookview Way, Tallaght; Hugh Cash, 50, of Sundale Avenue, Tallaght; his son John Cash, 25, of Raithin Cuilin, Gorey, Co Wexford; and Michael Moorehouse McCarthy, 23, of Aughmore Lane, Shankill appeared separately before a special sitting of Dublin District Court on Saturday evening.
Across the four appearances, members of An Garda Síochána outlined that the men had been arrested and charged earlier on Saturday in connection with a pursuit on Thursday morning.
The court heard that gardaí believed that a silver Volvo S40 with distinctive features including a coloured wing-mirror cover and seven-spoke alloy wheels had been connected to a series of burglaries in Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Kilkenny.
Gardaí told Judge Peter White that a Volvo S40 with similar features was observed on the M50 motorway on Thursday and an operation to contain the vehicle had been initiated.
A pursuit involving the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) began, which saw the vehicle chased through Blanchardstown and Castleknock before culminating in Chapelizod when the car was stopped.
Gardaí allege that a screwdriver and cloned licence plates were discarded from the vehicle during the chase but later recovered.
The DCRT was assisted by the serious crime and air support units in apprehending four men, some of whom had left the vehicle on foot.
John Cash was charged with 14 offences, including four counts of burglary, three counts of dangerous driving, one count of obstruction and one count of endangerment.
Garda Tom Pemberton told the court he had identified Mr Cash as the driver of the vehicle following the pursuit and arrests.
His father, Hugh Cash, was charged with obstructing an officer and two charges of possession of certain items with intent for them to be used in relation to a theft or burglary.
Moorehouse McCarthy faced four charges, including a count of trespass and two counts of possession of items with intent for use in theft or burglary.
Garda Emma Young told the court that a foot pursuit had been initiated against the accused after the vehicle they were travelling in was stopped.
She alleged that Moorehouse McCarthy had jumped over a wall and then got on a bus before making his way to Liffey Valley shopping centre.
She said at one point he changed out of visibly wet, muddy clothes into new clothes and was later stopped while he was in the passenger seat of a car.
Wall was charged with eight offences including four counts of burglary and one count of obstructing an officer.
His phone was also seized and gardaí said a screenshot of a DoneDeal listing for another Silver Volvo was found, matching the licence plate that had allegedly been cloned onto the car they had stopped.
Garda Patrick Hynes from the Dublin Crime Response Team said Wall replied that he had “an alibi” in response to all charges under caution.
The court heard that his co-accused made no replies under caution to the charges put to them.
All were granted bail by Judge White subject to a series of conditions.
Bail conditions included signing on at local garda stations, curfews, surrendering or not applying for travel documents and having no contact with each other.
John Cash was additionally instructed to stay out Dublin, Laois, Kildare and Kilkenny except for legal meetings or medical appointments as part of his bail conditions and the court sought a €750 cash lodgement.
The court heard that Wall had the assistance of legal representation during garda interviews but was representing himself in court as his solicitor would not appear due to the ongoing dispute with the Department of Justice over legal fees.
Moorehouse McCarthy was represented by Fiachra Treacy BL while Kevin McCrave BL appeared for the Cash men.
