*Martin Downes (36) of Seafield Park Quilty, charged with robbing Carrigaholt postmistress
THE four Clare men charged in connection with the robbery of Carrigaholt Post Office last Wednesday afternoon were all further remanded in custody for a two week period.
At Ennis District Court, the four men appeared in court via video link from Limerick prison.
Sgt Frank O’Grady told Judge Alec Gabbett today that DPP directions in the case are not yet available.
Judge Gabbett remanded all four in custody to re-appear via video-link before Ennis District court on February 11th.
In court last Friday, Judge Gabbett refused bail to all four and the four accused can now seek bail in the High Court.
In the case, Martin Downes (36) of Seafield Park Quilty, Michael McMahon (38) of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen, Darren Cassidy (38) of Lifford Mews, Lifford, Ennis and Darragh Pender (30) of Dun na hInse, Ennis are all 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.
At Ennis District Court on Friday afternoon, Sgt Shane Graham on behalf of the Gardaí 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 last Wednesday afternoon, January 21st.
Sgt Graham said that during the case, items were thrown from the alleged second getaway car, a BMW, and he said that Gardaí later recovered €6,500 in notes and coins from the road.
Sgt Graham said that Gardaí also recovered a Supervalu bag at the post office which is believed to be used in the robbery along with two metal bars that were also recovered.
Sgt Graham said that Gardaí also later recovered a quantity of cash from the Post Office scene.
Sgt Graham said that it will be alleged that Mr Pender and Mr Downes were the getaway drivers involved in the alleged robbery and confirmed to the court that both men have no previous convictions.
Sgt Graham said that one of the four accused, Darren Cassidy on arrest, had a receipt dated January 19th from Carrigaholt Post Office stuck to his tracksuit by chewing gum.
Sgt Graham said that after the getaway car drove off from the post office Ms McKiernan contacted Gradaí to raise the alarm and all Garda mobile units in Clare were put on alert.
Judge Gabbett said that the post mistress was left with “very serious injuries” and after looking at photos handed into court the judge commented that Maura McKiernan “was left black and blue”.
Sgt Graham said that the Gardaí will be seeking that the cases against the four be heard in the circuit court.
