Three men have been remanded in custody after being charged over a burglary at an elderly couple's north Cork home.
Niall Fitzpatrick (52), Jerry O'Leary (61) and John Faulkner (37) were all charged with entering the home of the couple in their 80s at Kilberehert, Freemount in north Cork on October 19th and attempting to commit a theft.
Det Garda Declan Keane said Mr Fitzpatrick of Corrin Close, the Glen, Cork, made no reply to the charge after caution.
Det Garda Patrick O'Sullivan said Mr O'Leary of Brandon Crescent, Dillon's Cross, Cork, made no reply to the charge after caution.
Det Garda Pádraig Reddington said Mr Faulkner of Adelaide Place, St Lukes, Cork, replied ‘no comment’ to the charge after caution.
Det Sgt Hugh Twomey said gardaí were objecting to bail for all three because of the seriousness of the offence which involved the careful and planned targeting of an elderly couple living in a remote and isolated rural area.
He said the State would allege all three were involved in a carefully planned operation involving the rental of a car and deliberate targeting of the elderly couple in the belief that they had large sums of cash in their house.
Det Sgt Hugh Twomey said the State would allege the defendants were watching the couple’s house and waited until they went to Mass on Saturday evening before forcing their way into the house.
Burglary in progress
He alleged that Mr Fitzpatrick was caught having entered the house while Mr O’Leary was also arrested at the scene as the burglary was taking place.
Det Sgt Hugh Twomey also alleged that Mr Faulkner was the driver, dropping his co-accused at the scene and waited for the signal to collect them but fled when he discovered they had been arrested.
He was pursued by gardaí and was seen disposing of evidence from the rented car before being apprehended, said Det Sgt Hugh Twomey.
He said he believed the strength of the evidence against all three was such it made conviction highly likely and, given the charge carried a maximum penalty of 14 years, he feared all three would abscond rather face trial if granted bail.
Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded all three in custody to appear again on October 29th.
