Gardaí recommend more serious charges against man charged with burglary of Wolfe Tones GAA
Gordon Deegan
Gardaí have recommended more serious charges against a Limerick man as part of an overall Garda investigation into an estimated €1 million in value in property that has been allegedly stolen or damaged in a spate of burglaries across Limerick, Clare and Galway.
At Ennis District Court, Eddie Carey (31) was appearing in connection to being charged with 24 burglaries at premises across Clare, Limerick and Galway that included one at Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Shannon - the club of Clare All-Ireland winning senior hurling manager and double All Ireland winner as a player, Brian Lohan.
The overall "significant Garda investigation" concerns the alleged burglary by a number of men of 31 commercial premises and 24 residential properties.
No monetary value has been put on the 24 burglaries that Mr Carey is charged with.
Eddie Carey has been on remand in custody since January 19th after he was refused bail and is facing 46 charges overall.
At Ennis District Court, Insp Noel Barry said that a further month is required for all charges to be considered by the DPP “and we are looking for a two week remand to try to get preliminary directions in relation to the current charges before the court”.
He said: “That would give the DPP more time to consider more serious charges as we have recommended.”
Insp Barry said: “There are no directions for today given the size of the file and the complexity of the case."
He added: “We had a development over the weekend, where a second co-accused was before the court and processed.”
Solicitor for Mr Carey, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, opposed a further remand in custody for his client, telling Judge Alec Gabbet,t ‘peremptory means peremptory.
On the previous day in court, Judge Gabbett had remanded Mr Carey in custody and that the remand was peremptory meaning that if DPP directions were not made there was a danger of the charges being struck out.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: “This man is entitled to his liberty, directors are not available.”
Judge Gabbett told Mr Fitzpatrick: “The State has provided very cogent reasons as to why the directions are not available."
Judge Gabbett said that it is a very unusual case due to the number of charges before the court.
Judge Gabbett told Insp Barry that he would adjourn the case into next Wednesday for mention and make then a further remand in custody for DPP directions.
Judge Gabbett's id: “I need to see progress.”
On one day alone on February 2nd, 2024, Mr Carey of De Vere Court, John Carew Park, Limerick is facing burglary charges concerning seven separate premises - Carry Out, Drumgeely, Shannon; Subway restaurant, Shannon; High Maintenance, Limerick Rd, Ennis; Remix, Limerick Rd, Ennis; Tech Station, Killaloe; Corbally Centre, Corbally Rd, Limerick and Inver, Ennis Rd, Limerick.
Mr Carey is facing the burglary charge against Wolfe Tones where he is accused of tresing at the Shannon GAA clubhouse on July 9th last and committing theft contrary to Section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
On the same date, Mr Carey is accused of committing burglaries at Hair Symphony, Clarinbridge, Galway, Day Break, Crusheen and Gala Chinese, Castle Street, Oranmore, Co Galway.
On another date on July 5th last, Mr Carey is accused of carrying out burglaries at five premises - The Electronic Store, Market Square, Scarriff; Rogers Bar, Main Street, Scariff; Newcastle West Mobile Zone, Newcastle West; Gadget Fix, Main Street, Adare and Poinaire, Main Street, Adare.
In total, Mr Carey is facing 46 separate charges that comprise of 24 burglary charges, 17 handling charges, four charges concerning the unauthorised taking of cars and one charge where he is accused of having in his possession two vehicle unlocking and starter devices.
