Accused refused bail over €100,000 raid on jewellers
Tuesday November 10 2009
TWO men charged with stealing luxury watches worth €100,000 during a foiled heist on a busy jewellery store were yesterday remanded in custody after applications for bail were refused.
Liver transplant recipient Clive Kavanagh (41), from Portland Row, and Michael Martin (25), from Oriel Street Upper, both in Dublin's north inner-city, were charged with stealing jewellery worth €100,000 during a raid on Dawson Jewellers' store on Dawson Street in Dublin city centre last Friday.
They were also charged with possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances -- an offence that carries a mandatory minimum five-year sentence.
Shop owner Ken McDonagh helped foil an attempt to rob jewellery including high-end Rolex and Cartier watches. A man, who is in his 30s, remains in hospital with injuries suffered after he was tackled by Mr McDonagh.
Garda Eugene McCarthy, from Harcourt Terrace garda station, and Chief Superintendent John Twomey objected to bail in the cases of both men.
Gda McCarthy referred to the seriousness of the charges and said the maximum term on conviction for the firearms offence was life imprisonment.
Tony Collier, solicitor for Mr Martin, applied for bail before Judge Ann Ryan, saying his client still enjoyed the presumption of innocence, had not been given an opportunity to defend himself and had made no admissions.
He said there was no evidence that Mr Martin was a "flight risk". He said his client had a young child, was on social welfare and would abide by bail conditions. Mr Collier said his client was on a methadone programme and his family had come up with a sum of €5,000 as bail money.
Solicitor Jenny McGeever, for Mr Kavanagh, said her client, who is on a methadone programme, had health difficulties and had undergone a liver transplant. She said he would comply with bail conditions.
However, Judge Ryan refused bail and remanded both men in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday.
Both men had applications for legal aid granted during the brief hearing at Bridewell District Court.
- Louise Hogan and Tom Tuite
Irish Independent
