An uncle and nephew facing a number of car theft charges were unsuccessful when they tried to use a mother's anniversary mass and a girlfriend as excuses to avoid being banned from both Athlone and Roscommon as conditions of bail at the District Court this week (June 3 ).
Brian Mongan (20 ) from Cornamart, Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon and his uncle John (30 ), from Ashline, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co Clare were appearing for the first time in relation to the theft of two cars from Dublin Road, Athlone and Ballymahon on May 20 and 21 respectively.
Amenable to bailing the two defendants but following Garda advice, Judge John Neilan demanded an undertaking from both not to enter the towns of Athlone or Roscommon as a condition of bail.
Defending solicitor, Mr Mark Cooney suggested this might be problematic for his clients, as Brian's girlfriend lived in Roscommon and John wished to attend his mother's anniversary mass in Athlone in the near future, but Judge Neilan was having none of it.
“There's masses in Ennis and Cork and it's the same God, as far as I'm concerned,” he thundered.
He allowed both men be bailed to re-appear on July 8 but fixed the condition that neither can come within three miles of the centre of the two towns, with the only exceptions being for legal appointments and for the collection of social welfare payments.
He then ordered both defendants be on the road out of Athlone within 15 minutes of leaving the courthouse.
