(Pictured: Accused Mssrs Clive Sweeney, Jonathan Byrne & Karl Smullen. Photo: Collins)
A man who is alleged to have stolen €10,000 worth of new tracksuits from a community school and attacked his former partner has been refused bail, following a Garda operation targeting burglary, car theft and criminal activity in Tallaght.
Clive Sweeney (46), who faces five burglary charges and one count of assault causing harm, was refused bail at the District Court along with his co-accused Jonathan Byrne (43), who is accused of stealing a €40,000 Range Rover. A third man, Karl Smullen (24), was granted bail subject to strict conditions.
Before hearing the bail applications, Judge Alan Mitchell noted that the three men were without legal representation because of the ongoing solicitors’ strike over criminal legal aid.
He told gardaí opposing bail that their objections would therefore need to be particularly strong. The gardaí confirmed that they were maintaining their objections.
The three men came before Tallaght District Court following a Garda operation on September 19 involving officers from Tallaght Community Engagement and the Serious Crime Unit.
Mr Sweeney, with addresses at Kilmartin Avenue and Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, is accused of forcing his way into his former partner’s home on August 8 after she opened the door.
Garda Brian Law said Mr Sweeney allegedly became extremely aggressive, shouted abuse at the woman, punched her around the head, pulled her hair and bit her right hand.
A television was allegedly pulled from the wall and a front window smashed during the incident.
Garda Law told the court the woman was so “terrified” of Mr Sweeney that she was too afraid to attend court and face him. He also expressed concern that Mr Sweeney could interfere with her if released on bail.
Mr Sweeney also faces five burglary charges, including a break-in at St Aidan’s Community School on September 10.
The court heard around €10,000 worth of new tracksuits, bought with money saved by the school, were allegedly stolen.
He is also accused of burglaries at Hale Vaping in Citywest and an accident repair business at Cookstown Industrial Estate.
Garda Law told the court there was high-quality CCTV evidence in relation to a number of the alleged offences and said there would be evidence that Mr Sweeney had been identified.
Objecting to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act and the O’Callaghan rules, Garda Law also raised concerns about Mr Sweeney’s alleged crack cocaine addiction.
He described Mr Sweeney as being in the “throes of addiction” and told the court the accused was unemployed and reliant on social welfare.
Citing an estimated street value of €127 per gram of crack cocaine, Garda Law argued there was a risk Mr Sweeney would commit further serious offences to fund his alleged drug habit.
Judge Mitchell refused bail and remanded Mr Sweeney in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court by video link on September 25.
Karl Smullen, of Rossfield Park, Tallaght, was granted bail after telling the court he wanted to stop taking drugs and “change my life”.
He faces six charges – five counts of burglary relating to Hale Vaping at Citywest Shopping Centre between August 19 and 23, and one count of the theft over €92 worth of alcohol stolen from SuperValu in Knocklyon on May 9.
Garda Law again objected to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act and the O’Callaghan rules.
He told the court that the Hale Vaping charges formed part of an investigation into a spate of burglaries in which a blue Volkswagen Passat car allegedly featured.
On one occasion, two suspects allegedly entered through an unlocked rear door of the vape shop and spent around ten minutes removing boxes of vaping products before loading them into the Passat.
The shop estimated its losses at thousands of euro.
Garda Law said high-quality CCTV formed part of the evidence and that Mr Smullen had been identified on footage relating to incidents on August 21 and 23.
He said there would be evidence that Mr Smullen later admitted driving the Passat and made admissions concerning the alleged burglaries.
Garda Law told Judge Mitchell that, “in fairness” to Mr Smullen, he had been “very cooperative” and helpful to Gardaí following his arrest.
However, he also raised concerns about Mr Smullen’s heroin and crack cocaine addiction and the risk of further offending.
Mr Smullen told the court he did not want to take drugs anymore, adding: “I am ready to change my life.”
Judge Mitchell granted bail but warned Mr Smullen that continuing to take drugs would put further strain on his relationship.
His bail conditions include a curfew between 10pm and 6am and an order to stay away from Rossfield Park.
Mr Smullen was also ordered to return to court for a further hearing in six weeks.
Jonathan Byrne, with no fixed address in the Tallaght area, faces six charges, including robbery, producing a weapon, two theft offences, possession of stolen property and trespass.
He was refused bail after the court heard allegations that a box-cutter knife was produced during a €780 robbery at Glenview Post Office in Dublin 24 while a 79-year-old man stood at the till.
The court heard that a man wearing a black baseball cap and black runners entered the post office on September 4, produced the knife and demanded money.
The suspect allegedly told staff: “Give me the money, I don’t want to harm you,” before €780 was taken.
Garda Jack Lynch Hayes said extensive CCTV formed part of the prosecution case and that Mr Byrne had been identified from the footage.
The court heard the suspect was captured leaving the scene in a taxi and allegedly switching seats with the driver.
The court heard that Mr Byrne replied “no comment” throughout his Garda interview.
He is also accused of stealing a €40,000 Range Rover from Watergate Estate on September 19, trespassing at the property and later possessing a key to the stolen vehicle.
Objecting to bail, Garda Lynch Hayes described Mr Byrne as a “serious addict” of crack cocaine and heroin and said the accused man was unemployed and had no fixed abode.
He told the court that heroin was currently selling for €140 per gram and argued Mr Byrne had no means to fund his alleged addiction without risking further serious offending.
Garda Lynch Hayes said no bail conditions would satisfy his concerns.
Judge Mitchell refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act and on O’Callaghan grounds. He remanded Mr Byrne in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court by video link on September 25.