*Darren Cassidy.
TWO OF the four Clare men charged in relation to the alleged robbery of Carrigaholt post office in January are to enter signed pleas of guilty.
At Ennis District Court, solicitor, Daragh Hassett for Michael McMahon (38) said that his client has instructed him that he can go forward to the Circuit Court on a signed guilty plea on the one charge before the court.
Mr McMahon of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen was appearing via video-link from Limerick prison where he has been on remand in custody since January 23rd after failing in two applications before Ennis District Court and the High Court to secure bail.
Mr Hassett also represents a co-accused in the case, Darren Cassidy (38) of Lifford Mews, Lifford, Ennis and Mr Hassett told the court that he has been instructed by his client to say that he has no difficulty in proceeding on a signed guilty plea.
Co-accused Daragh Pender and Martin Downes also appeared via video-link from Limerick prison and Sgt John Burke told Judge Valerie Corcoran that the file in the case is with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Referring to outstanding directions in the case, Sgt Burke said, “It is not too far away”.
Solicitor for Mr Pender (30) of Dun na hInse, Ennis, John Casey said that his client obtained bail in the High Court but can’t take up bail.
Co-accused, Martin Downes also appeared via video-link and solicitor, Tara Godfrey said that Mr Downes (36) of Seafield Park, Quilty has also been unable to take up his High Court bail.
Judge Valerie Corcoran further remanded the four in custody to appear before Ennis District Court on April 15th.
In the case, Mr Downes, Mr Cassidy, Mr Pender and Mr McMahon are each 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 on January 21st.
At a contested bail hearing in January, 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 Gardai 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 both have no previous convictions.
