Portlaoise Court: Two men caught red-handed with stolen goods from Laois storage unit
Portlaoise Courthouse
TWO men who were allegedly caught red-handed with goods that had allegedly been stolen from storage units in Abbeyleix were brought before Portlaoise District Court the day after they were arrested at the scene.
Leon Thompson (24), 26 Glenfield Drive, Ronanstown Dublin 22 was charged with burglary, criminal damage and with the unauthorised carriage in a motor vehicle at Goldfinch Storage Units, Green Road, Rathmoyle, Abbeyleix on 12 July.
Andrew Byrne (40), Fortlawn, Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 was charged with handling stolen property, burglary and with the unauthorised carriage in a motor vehicle on the same date and at the same location.
Prosecuting Garda Harty said that she objected to bail being granted to both defendants.
Judge Andrew Cody explained to both men that due to the ongoing dispute between legal aid solicitors and the Department of Justice that no solicitor was available to represent them.
He said should they wish not to apply for bail, he could remand them both in custody to another date and with the stated agreement of the striking solicitors that they would be represented at a second bail hearing.
Both men said they preferred if the bail hearing went ahead.
Garda Harty told Judge Cody that numerous attempts had been made to contact solicitors to represent both men, but none were available.
She proceeded to outline the objections she had to Mr Byrne being granted bail.
She alleged that at 4am the previous night, 12 July, gardaí responded to a report of intruders breaking into a storage unit facility. When they arrived at the scene, they observed Mr Byrne allegedly sitting in a black Volkswagen Golf car with cloned number plates on it and that the car was allegedly stolen after a burglary in Dublin on 26 June. She alleged that in the car was a suitcase filled with designer handbags and that allegedly between the accused legs was a large vodka bottle with a large number of coins in it and he was allegedly in possession of an Apple Air Tag tracking device.
She also alleged that at the time Mr Byrne was wearing gardening gloves.
Garda Harty said that if the defendant was released on bail, she believes he would go on to commit further offences.
Judge Cody asked if Mr Byrne wanted to give evidence at the bail hearing, to which he said he didn’t. He also asked the defendant if he had anyone who would be prepared to stand bail for him, again to which he replied he didn’t.
Court presenter Garda Sgt Kirby said: “I don’t think that anybody does gardening that early in the mornings.” Judge Cody remanded Mr Byrne in custody to 20 July with consent to his own bail of €100 and an independent surety of €2,500 or a cash lodge of €2,500 with conditions that he signs on daily at his nearest garda station, stays out of Laois, with the exception of court appearances, provides a mobile phone number to gardaí, takes their calls at all times and observes a daily 8am to 8pm curfew.
He said the case would be conducted via video link and assigned free legal aid to solicitor John Feeney.
In the case of Mr Thompson, he told Judge Cody that his solicitor Lorraine Stephens was not in court to represent him.
Garda Harty set out similar details as to how the defendant was allegedly caught red-handed.
She alleged that a witness observed him holding a jacket and bag, took photos of him and gave pursuit when he allegedly took off and was arrested hiding in a nearby field. She said he had allegedly been seen with a bag in his possession that had not yet been recovered.
Garda Harty alleged that when apprehended, Mr Byrne said that he had been out for a drive.
She said that if the defendant was released on bail, she believed that he would go on to commit further offences.
Judge Cody asked the defendant if he had anybody that would post bail for him, to which he replied: “Me father.” “How much has he?” asked Judge Cody, to which the father, who was in the body of the court, replied: “€500. I can go and get it.’’ Judge Cody went on to remand Mr Thompson in custody with consent to a €100 own bail and an independent surety of €500 or a €500 cash lodgement to the 20 July sitting of the court.
He asked the defendant whether he was working?
He replied: “I was supposed to start a scaffolding job today,” to which Judge Cody said: “That didn’t start too well.” As part of his bail conditions, Mr Thompson was ordered to obey a daily curfew of 8pm to 8am, sign on daily at his nearest garda station, provide a mobile phone number to gardaí and be available to always take their calls. He was also ordered to remain of sober habits and to stay out of Laois, except for attending his court dates.
Before the court concluded for the day, Mr Thompson’s father lodged €500 in cash and his son was released on bail.
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