*The grounds in Wolfe Tones were among the premises where Eddie Carey carried out burglaries.
A JUDGE warned that if there is not progress over the next month in the case concerning a man charged with 24 burglaries at premises across Clare, Limerick and Galway, the accused could be let out of prison with the charges struck out.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett stated that accused man Eddie Carey (30) “within a month, he could be out” if progress has not been made in the case.
Sgt Frank O’Grady said that DPP directions are still outstanding in the case.
Judge Gabbett said, “Why? Surely we have a fair idea”. He said that he would remand Mr Carey for a further two weeks in custody marking it ‘time passing’ in the case.
Solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick for the accused told Judge Gabbett that his client has been in custody on this case alone since January 19th.
Mr Carey was refused bail in the District Court and Mr Fitzpatrick said, “An application for bail in the High Court was withdrawn – it may be revisited – he is in custody alone on these charges. We need progress”.
Mr Fitzpatrick said, “It needs to move on”.
After Judge Gabbett said that he would remand Mr Carey in custody for a further two weeks, Mr Fitzpatrick asked “and the next step after that”.
Judge Gabbett said, “Peremptory,” which in legal terms means that a case would be struck out.
Judge Gabbett said, “Within a month he (Mr Carey) could be out. Charges struck out”.
In one of the charges against Eddie Carey, he is charged with burglary at Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Shannon.
Judge Gabbett previously told the court that there has been a “big Garda investigation” in the case.
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 trespassing 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; Rodgers 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.
The charge states that the two unlocking devices were in Mr Carey’s possession at his address on September 17th last and the devices were made or adapted for the use in the authorised taking of vehicles.
Judge Gabbett remanded Mr Carey to appear via video-link from Limerick prison at Ennis District Court to March 5th.
