A second County Clare man accused of the robbery of Carrigaholt Post Office in west Clare in January faces fresh charges of dangerous driving connected to the alleged robbery offence.
At Ennis District Court, Martin Downes (36) of Seafield Park, Quilty was brought from prison to be charged with dangerous driving at two locations, the R474 Kilmaley Rd, Coor and Lispukaun, Kilmaley on January 21st last.
Mr Downes already faces a charge on the same date of robbing Maura McKiernan, the post-mistress at An Post Carrigaholt, The Square, Carrigaholt of cash, coins and a cheque to the value of €8,944.63, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
In evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Det Garda Deirdre Collins of Kilrush Garda Station said that she charged Mr Downes at Ennis Courthouse before court and she said that Mr Downes made no reply after caution.
Mr Downes has been on remand in custody at Limerick prison since January 23rd and does have consent to bail but has been unable to take up bail.
In court last week, Ms Godfrey said that Mr Downes had been assaulted while in prison “and there are now a lot of efforts to have him released on that bail”.
However, Mr Downes remains in custody and Ms Godfrey told the court that the new charges will form part of the Book of Evidence to be served on Mr Downes.
Sgt John Burke told the court that the charges will track the robbery charge in the Book of Evidence but may be added to the indictment that will go before the circuit court.
Sgt Burke said that the State is hoping to have the Book of Evidence for next week and Judge Adrian Harris further remanded Mr Downes in custody with consent to bail to appear at Ennis District Court on July 1st
Co-accused, Michael McMahon (38) of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen appeared via video-link from prison and Judge Harris further remanded Mr McMahon in custody for the serving of a Book of Evidence next week.
In the case, Darragh Pender (30) of Dun na hInse, Ennis and Darren Cassidy (38) of Lifford Mews, Lifford, Ennis have already signed pleas of guilty to the robbery charge to go forward to the circuit court. Mr Pender is also facing dangerous driving charges from the same date.
Mr Downes co-accused are also charged with robbery Maura McKiernan, the post-mistress at An Post Carrigaholt, The Square, Carrigaholt of cash, coins and a cheque to the value of €8,944.63, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 on January 21st.
At a contested bail hearing in January, Sgt Shane Graham told the court that it is the Garda belief that the four men before the court charged with robbery were part of a four person joint enterprise “who acted in concert and colluded in order to carry out a cold and calculated robbery”.
Opposing bail for the four, Sgt Graham said that it will be alleged that the four member strong gang “involved two getaway drivers and two members of the gang that entered the premises where the post mistress was violently and viciously assaulted with iron bars by both males”.
