Collopy bailed despite strong Garda objection

A Limerick man extradited from Bulgaria to face charges of threatening to kill a key State witness, has been granted bail, despite strenuous Garda objection.

Vincent Collopy, aged 35, of St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park, was returned to Ireland last week on foot of a European arrest warrant, issued three years ago.

He is charged with threatening to kill prosecution witness Willie Moran contrary to section five of the Fatal Offences Against The Person Act, and intimidating a witness contrary to Section 41 of the same act. The offences are alleged to have occurred at Island Rd, Limerick, on June 9, 2010.

During a bail hearing at Limerick District Court yesterday, Det Sgt Ronan McDonagh alleged that Mr Collopy has played a central role in the Keane-Collopy gang in Limerick.

The court heard Mr Moran was under 24-hour armed Garda protection up until 12 months ago, and this is under review.

Det Sgt McDonagh said gardaí did not get a chance to interview Mr Collopy before he left four years ago. He said that, before his extradition, Mr Collopy was last seen by gardaí on June 29, 2010, the day before an alleged accomplice was arrested in connection with the same incident. A file was submitted to the DPP and it was recommended that Mr Collopy be charged.

Defence solicitor John Devane said his client had left Ireland lawfully and was working and living in Manchester. The court heard the married father subsequently left the UK to live in Bulgaria, where he was registered with authorities under his own name and given an identity card.

Mr Devane said his client and gone to Spain with his wife on holiday and returned to Bulgaria and said he was never on any Interpol list of “wanted men”.

Insp Seamus Ruane said it was the State’s contention that Mr Collopy knew he was being sought for questioning in respect of a serious incident when he left Ireland. He said the accused had to be “forcibly returned” under a European arrest warrant and said it took three years to locate him when he moved from the UK to Bulgaria. He also said Garda fears he would flee the jurisdiction and commit offences if granted bail were “well-founded”.

Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the State had not presented evidence of any definite efforts by Mr Collopy to avoid detection or arrest and said no evidence had been put forward of efforts to track him down. He said there is no obligation on a man to return to a jurisdiction for questioning and said at all times Mr Collopy had travelled under his own name and his own passport.

Bail was granted on Mr Collopy’s own bond of €5,000 and an independent surety of €9,000. He was granted bail on condition he resides at 5 St Senan St, St Mary’s Park, Limerick, and signs on daily at Henry Street Garda Station. He was ordered not to have any contact with the injured party, to stay away from the Rhebogue area of Limerick and to observe a curfew between 11pm and 7am.

He was also ordered to surrender his passport and any travel documents and Bulgarian or UK identity cards. He is due before the court again on June 17.