A Romanian man accused of robbing a pensioner of a treasured gold necklace bearing the initial of her deceased son and the attempted robbery of another woman has been granted bail, despite garda objections.
Grigore Malanca (42), of Walkinstown Crescent, Walkinstown, Dublin 12, is charged with one count of robbery and a separate attempted robbery involving another woman in Dublin 4.
Garda Aisling Shannon, of Irishtown Garda Station, told Dún Laoghaire District Court that a 75-year-old woman was allegedly targeted in Donnybrook on July 28 and robbed of a gold necklace valued at €800.
The court heard the necklace was of sentimental value as it had an “M” engraved on the pendant – the initial of the woman’s deceased son.
Garda Aisling Shannon told the court that the woman had been on her own and was making her way towards her home at her gate when Mr Malanca allegedly drove past her Land Rover Freelander and performed a U-turn. He is alleged to have gotten out of his car and grabbed the gold necklace from her neck.
Mr Malanca, who is originally from Romania and has been living and working in Ireland for around eight months, is charged with robbery contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
He is also accused of attempting to rob a 62-year-old woman of a gold necklace in Sandymount on September 12.
Garda Shannon strongly objected to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997, citing concerns about the risk of further serious offending. She also objected on O’Callaghan grounds on the basis that the accused man was a flight risk.
Garda Shannon also referred to CCTV footage which, she said, identified Mr Malanca as the suspect.
She told Judge Conor Fottrell that gardai were concerned as Mr Malanca is accused of targeting two vulnerable older women in the D4 area within a matter of weeks.
Garda Shannon also said the two alleged injured parties were fearful and had not wished to attend court that morning.
She told the court that a file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and that the case could proceed on indictment.
Defence solicitor Andrew Vallely challenged the bail objection, pointing out that his client had been living and working in Ireland for around eight months.
He argued that Mr Malanca had ties to the jurisdiction and proposed strict bail conditions, including that the accused surrender his passport and sign on daily at a Garda station.
Garda Shannon said that no proposed bail conditions would satisfy Garda concerns.
Judge Fottrell said he was not satisfied that the grounds required to refuse bail had been established and granted Mr Malanca bail subject to strict conditions.
The accused must surrender his passport, undertake not to apply for replacement travel documents, sign on daily at Crumlin Garda Station, remain out of Dublin 4, keep himself contactable by gardaí and provide them with his phone number.
Bail was set on his own bond of €500, with a cash lodgement required.