*The matter was before Ennis Circuit Court on Monday.
THERE ARE 55,000 pages of telephone records as part of the evidence against two Limerick men facing charges for their roles in an alleged €1m burglary spree in the Mid-West, a court has heard.
At Ennis Circuit Court on Monday, Patrick Whyms BL said that the volume of evidence in the case “is enormous”.
Defence counsel, Mr Whyms is representing Owen Casey (28) of Salvia Court, Keyes Park, Southill, Limerick who is facing 59 charges.
Mr Casey’s co-accused, Eddie Carey (31) of De Vere Court, John Carew Park, Limerick is facing 66 charges, bringing to 125 charges the two men are facing.
The two remain on remand in custody pending trial and the trial concerning the two is due to commence at Ennis Circuit Court next month.
However, Mr Whyms has stated that he didn’t believe it is possible for the defence to be ready in time for trial given the volume of evidence in the case.
Mr Whyms stated that he received on September 16th disclosure in the case which included a hard drive. He said, “The volume of the evidence is enormous in a case where telephone evidence is one of the elements of the prosecution”.
He said that the evidence includes 55,000 pages of telephone records and a very extensive amount of CCTV.
Mr Whyms said that it is very difficult to advise clients in those circumstances given the time-frame involved.
Mr Whyms said that State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey has stated that it took her three months to go through all the material “that we now have to go through in a matter of weeks”.
Mr Whyms stated that he can’t apply for an adjournment in the case “as I don’t have instructions at this time to do so”.
Mr Whyms said that was seeking for his client to be produced from prison for court on Wednesday so he can consult with him and get instructions.
Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL said that the evidence in the case is voluminous “and we understand why this is being brought before the court now”.
Judge Francis Comerford ordered that both Mr Casey and Mr Carey be produced for court for Wednesday.
The 66 charges against Mr Carey include two alleged offences at Wolfe Tones GAA club in Shannon.
No monetary value has been put on the alleged multiple burglaries that Mr Carey and Mr Casey are charged with.
Eddie Carey has been on remand in custody since January 19th after he was refused bail and Mr Casey has been in custody since April 13th after also failing to secure bail.
Both are charged with causing €16,000 in criminal damage to the bar counter of Wolfe Tones GAA Clubhouse in Shannon on July 9th 2024.
Thousands of Clare fans gathered at the grounds on Wolfe Tones on July 22nd 2024 to welcome back Brian Lohan and his players after they beat Cork in the 2024 All-Ireland senior hurling final.
In evidence previously heard at a bail hearing for Mr Casey, Det Garda Aoife O’Malley told the bail hearing that Mr Casey along with two of his associates are suspected to be involved in burglaries and stealing high value vehicles across the Mid-West with a combined estimated monetary value in excess of €1m.
