Four sent to trial under new anti-gangland legislation

Four Dublin men, who have become the first to be prosecuted under tough new anti-gangland legislation, are to face trial a court heard today.

The men, who are from Crumlin, are charged with organised crime activities in connection with a foiled post office robbery in Drumcondra, in north Dublin, last October.

David Atkinson (aged 41), of Windmill Park, Crumlin, Dwayne Stacey (aged 22) with an address at the South Circular Road, Philip Kerfoot (aged 38), of Ross Road, Dublin 8, and Gerard Carey (aged 33) of Kildare Road, Crumlin, were before Cloverhill District Court today.

Detective Mark O’Riordain of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation told Judge Eamon O'Brien that the DPP had directed trial by indictment for the four defendants, who were were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, May 12 last.

They had been remanded in custody last Wednesday after they were charged under the Criminal Justice Amendment Act 2009 that between July 23 and October 16 last year, knowing of the existence of a criminal organisation did participate in activity with intent to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that organisation or its members.

Mr Stacey and Kerfoot had also been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery at Drumcondra Post Office, on October 16 last. Their co-defendants had been charged earlier with the same offence.

Today, their solicitor Peter Mullan requested an adjournment of the case until May 27, when a book of evidence is to be served.

There was no application for bail. Judge O'Brien remanded all four in custody until then, when they are due to appear at Dublin District Court, at the Criminal Courts of Justice.

The new anti-gangland legislation was introduced in the aftermath of the killing of rugby player Shane Geoghegan and the fatal shooting of Roy Collins at his family’s business, both in Limerick. On conviction it can carry a 15-year sentence.