*Darragh Pender.
A SOLICITOR for one of the four Clare men accused of robbery of Carrigaholt Post Office has asked for prison support for his client stating that the man is in the same clothes as he was four or five weeks ago.
At Ennis District Court today, John Casey said that his client, Darragh Pender (30) of Dun na hInse, Ennis is currently getting no support in Limerick prison.
Mr Casey asked for the social worker to intervene after saying that Mr Pender “is literally in the same clothes he was four or five weeks ago”.
Mr Casey told Judge Alec Gabbett, “He has no outside support and can you direct a social worker to help to make his life somewhat easier”.
Mr Casey said, “He can’t get his clothes on the outside because there is no one to get them for him”.
Judge Gabbett asked, “This is because his family has backed away”.
Mr Casey said, “Yes, for the moment anyway”.
Mr Casey said that Mr Pender is on remand in custody with consent to bail from the High Court but is unable to take up bail currently as he cannot currently provide a bail address to court.
Mr Pender’s three co-accused all remain on remand at Limerick prison and all appeared via video-link from Limerick prison on Wednesday.
Co-accused Michael McMahon (38) of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen, also appeared and Judge Gabbett said that the High Court has refused Mr McMahon bail and further remanded him in custody to March 11th.
Judge Gabbett first refused bail to all four at Ennis District Court last month.
Sgt John Burke said that the four are charged with “a serious offence” and said that the file in the case is at completion stage and asked for an adjournment to March 11th in all four cases.
Martin Downes (36) of Seafield Park, Quilty also appeared via video-link and his solicitor, Tara Godfrey said that Mr Downes secured bail in the High Court on condition he can provide an address but he remains in custody as he has been unable to provide a bail address.
Ms Godfrey told her client that if he does obtain bail before the next court date he is to show up in person in court on March 11th.
Judge Gabbett also further remanded co-accused Darren Cassidy (38) of Lifford Mews, Lifford, Ennis in custody and noted that there was no High Court bail application in his case.
In the case, Mr Downes, Mr Cassidy, Mr Pender and Mr McMahon are each charged with robbing Maura McKiernan, the post-mistress of 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 last month 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, 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 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.
Judge Gabbett remanded all four in custody to appear before Ennis District Court to March 11th.
