Brothers target elderly in Co Kerry, court told

Two brothers from Rathkeale, Co Limerick, who gardaí claim “target the elderly” in Kerry, appeared before a sitting of Tralee District Court yesterday.

They were arrested in Fenit on Tuesday night after allegedly targetting an 81-year-old man who lives alone outside the Co Kerry village, the court heard.

They drove to his home and entered it by force, Det Garda John Alfred maintained. They tried to force him to sign a blank cheque, he also alleged.

“If they are given bail, they will continue to commit similar crimes. They have targeted this elderly man in the past.

“They specifically travelled from Limerick to target this man in Fenit. They will continue to target the elderly, if given bail,” he told Insp Tony Sugrue.

Daniel Quilligan, aged 50, who lives in a mobile home outside his mother-in-law’s house at Deale Court, “vehemently” denied the charge of entering the home of the man as a trespasser with intent to deceive, his solicitor Pat Mann said.

He denied a further charge of stealing a sum of €4,650 in cash from the man at the same address between January 8 and 14.

Michael Quilligan, aged 40, of Roches Road, denied the single charge of entering as a trespasser with intent to deceive, his solicitor Nuala Liston said.

Judge James O’Connor remanded both with consent to bail, saying in reality the High Court would grant bail. He imposed strict conditions, including signing on twice daily at Newcastlewest in Co Limerick, surrendering their passports, and staying out of Co Kerry other than for their court appearance on April 30 in Tralee.