Eight people charged after credit card cloning equipment was seized in Dublin yesterday have been remanded in custody pending bail hearings tomorrow morning.
They were arrested and charged under Section 2 and 3 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991 after allegedly causing damage to a number of ATMs in Dublin City centre between August 1st and September 4th.
The five men and three women - all believed to be Romanian nationals - were arrested following raids at two Dublin houses yesterday afternoon.
At a hearing in the Dublin District Court today the Garda opposed bail for all eight on the grounds that a number of them had false documents on their possession. The Garda also claim since the accused do not have ties to the State they cannot be relied upon to appear in court for a hearing.
The court was also told substantial quantities of money were seized at 21 Faulkner Terrace, Dublin 8, and No 2, Hamond Lane, Dublin 7 during the raids. The Garda said this indicated the accused might have the means to leave the State.
This morning, solicitor for two of the accused, Mr Killian McMorrow, claimed the arresting gardaí had acted outside the law while gaining access to the house, allegedly damaging property within the house. He also contended fair procedure had not been followed.
He said the occupants were not in a position to understand or read the search warrant presented to them. Nor was a request for a solicitor adhered to he told, Mr Justice David Anderson.
Husband and wife Mr Catalin Tatarasanu (40) and Ms Danielle Tatarasanu (28), and Mr David Robert were arrested at 21 Faulkner Terrace, Dublin 8, on foot of the search warrant.
Mr Tatarasanu contended his three children aged five, nine and 13, who were in the house at the time, were taken to Store St Garda station and detained for six hours.
This claim was rejected by arresting Garda Sean McAvinchy.
He told the court that gardaí had no other option but to break down the door to gain access to the house and that once inside gardaí proffered the search warrant and identified themselves. He said the children were taken to Store St because there was nowhere else to take them and they were cared for there to the best of the Garda's ability.
The court heard a device for scanning credit cards and then cloning them was seized when the bedroom of Mr Adrian Timpu, (22) with an address at No 2, Hamond Lane was searched. A significant sum of money was also seized.
The court was told Mr Timpu’s identity was in question and that he may face further charges. The court also heard that Mr Timpu allegedly claimed to have gained entry into the State on the back of a lorry.
Four others were arrested at the same address; Mr Lucien Mitrache (19), Mr Ifrim Costel (20) Ms Monica Horvat (17), Ms Christina Borcea (18) will also have bail applications heard tomorrow.
All eight have been granted free legal aid. The hearings are due to start at 10.30 in the Dublin District Court.
