Two remanded in custody over failed jewellery robbery
Two men were remanded in custody today after they were charged over a botched attempted armed robbery of a jewellery shop on Dawson Street, in Dublin city centre on Friday last.
Three males entered the Dawson Jewellers and were confronted by members of staff and the public.
Gardaí responded and arrested two men, one in his 20’s and another in his 40’s. Both men, who are from Dublin’s north inner city, were detained under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act.
This morning Clive Kavanagh (aged 41) of Portland Row and Michael Martin (aged 25) of Oriel Street, were charged at Dublin District Court in connection with the incident.
Both faced charges of robbery of €100,000 worth of Rolex and Cartier watches from Mr Ken McDonagh, the shop owner, and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Garda Eugene McCarthy told Judge Ann Ryan that both defendants were charged on Sunday at Pearse Street and Harcourt Terrace garda stations. Neither accused made a reply when cautioned, he said.
Garda McCarthy objected to bail citing the seriousness of the offence and said the maximum term on conviction for the firearms offence was life imprisonment.
Chief Superintendent John Twomey also objected to bail.
Tony Collier, solicitor for Mr Martin, applied for a bail saying his client still enjoyed the presumption of innocence, had not been given an opportunity to defend himself and had made no admissions.
He submitted that 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.
He said his client was on a methadone maintenance programme and his family had come up with a sum of €5,000 as bail money.
Solicitor, Jenny McGeever, for Mr Kavanagh, submitted that her client, who is also on a methadone maintenance programme, had health difficulties and had undergone a liver transplant. She said that there was no issue over his address or identity and that he would comply with bail conditions.
However, Judge Ryan refused bail and remanded the pair in custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court, on Thursday, November 12 next.
Legal aid was granted after the court was told that Mr Kavanagh was in receipt of a disability allowance and Mr Martin was on social welfare.
The third male, in his 30’s who was injured when he was tackled by the shop owner Ken McDonagh required hospital treatment and was taken to St James Hospital.
