The two men accused of attempting to rob a post office in Connemara last week have been refused bail.
Michael Huston (44 ) of Luí Na Gréine, Western Distributor Road, Galway, and Quintas Smith (30 ) of no fixed abode were brought in custody before Judge Elizabeth McGrath at Galway District Court yesterday charged with allegedly having an imitation firearm, and possession of a knife, gloves, and balaclava with intent to carry out a robbery at Indreabhan Post Office on November 11 last.
The two South African nationals had been arrested near the post office around 5.30pm following an intellegence led operation into organised crime.
In court this week, Inspector Michael Coppinger made an application to have both men remanded in custody. There was also strong objection to bail being granted.
Detective Garda Mick Staunton gave evidence that Smith had difficulty with immigration, that in May 2002 he had been refused registration along with his partner and had “vanished”. Smith had no further contact with the authorities until the time of his arrest. The court heard that Smith’s partner has since gone back to South Africa and that he no longer lived at a Cavan address. “He is a flight risk,” said Det Garda Staunton who added that there will be further charges profferred against Smith.
In the case of Huston Det Garda Staunton said that the accused man lives in rented accommodation with his partner in Galway and has one child who is an Irish citizen. He maintained that Huston did not have great ties in the jurisdiction and that he too is a flight risk due to the seriousness of the charges and that there will be more charges to come.
Det Garda Staunton later explained that both men had been arrested in very close proximity to the post office and that it came about as a result of prior intellegence that a serious incident was to happen there with an imitation firearm.
Defence solicitor Geroid Geraghty said that Huston had no previous convictions or outstanding bench warrants and charges. He added that his client was of previous good character. With regards to Smith Mr Geraghty said that he too has ties to the jurisdiction in the form of his brother who has lived in Dublin for nine years and is prepared to allow the accused to reside with him.
“They are a flight risk... It was a Garda operation in which they were caught red-handed and their link to the State is tentative,” said Inspector Coppinger.
Judge McGrath refused bail and remanded both men in custody to appear at Harristown District Court on November 27 for DPP directions.
