The DPP has directed that three Co Clare men charged in connection with an alleged robbery of Carrigaholt post office in west Clare in January are to go forward on indictment to the circuit court on a single charge each.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Sgt John Burke said that the directions from the DPP are now available and have confirmed that the Darren Cassidy, Michael McMahon and Martin Downes are to face a single charge of robbery.
Solicitor for two of the accused, Darren Cassidy and Michael McMahon, Daragh Hassett said that his clients have already indicated that they wish to go forward on signed guilty pleas to the robbery charge.
State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey said that the DPP has instructed that there is no consent to the signed guilty pleas at this stage.
Mr Hassett said that it was highly unusual that the state would not accept with both hands the offer of signed guilty pleas.
Mr Hassett said that such a course would save Ms Casey’s office the effort and expense of putting together Books of Evidence for the circuit court.
Mr Casey said that it was a matter for the DPP but she would be in a position to provide full disclosure on the case to the solicitors for the accused by the end of next week.
Ms Casey said it will be alleged that the accused were involved in a joint enterprise of robbery and each defendant should be clear as to their alleged role in the robbery.
Mr Hassett said that this would be a matter for mitigation in the circuit court.
In court today, Judge Adrian Harris further remanded Michael McMahon (38) of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen and Darren Cassidy (38) of Lifford Mews, Lifford, Ennis in custody to re-appear by video link at Ennis court on May 20th.
Martin Downes (36) of Seafield Park, Quilty also appeared via video-link from Limerick prison today and he was also further remanded in custody to May 20th.
All three accused in the case were today appearing via video-link from Limerick prison and all four have been on remand in custody since January of this year.
A fourth co-accused, Daragh Pender (30) of Dun na hInse, Ennis is due to appear before the court next week.
Mr Pender and Mr Downes have both secured High Court but have been unable to take it up.
In the case, Mr Downes, Mr Cassidy, Mr Pender and Mr McMahon are each charged with 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 on January 21st.
At a contested bail hearing in January, Sgt Shane Graham on behalf of the Gardai successfully opposed bail and 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”.
Sgt Graham was one of the members of An Garda Síochana who was involved in a high speed car chase across west Clare that ended on the outskirts of Ennis where the four suspects were apprehended by members of the Garda Armed Response Unit (ARU) at 3.45pm, January 21st.
Sgt Graham said that during the case, items were thrown from the alleged second getaway car, a BMW, and he said that Gardai later recovered €6,500 in notes and coins from the road.
Sgt Graham said that it will be alleged that Mr Pender and Mr Downes were the getaway drivers involved in the alleged robbery and both have no previous convictions.
