Three Dublin men, arrested and charged following a foiled armed raid on a businessman’s home in Lackagh last February, pleaded guilty yesterday to offences which included false imprisonment and possession of firearms with criminal intent.
The accused men were brought before Judge Raymond Groarke at the Galway Circuit Criminal Court where it was revealed that a jury would not be required as they wished to plead guilty to a number of counts against them. The offences relate to an incident in which a number of people were held at gunpoint at the home of Julian and Emma Flynn in Lackagh, Turloughmore, on February 15 last.
The first to be arraigned was 24-year-old Gregory Kelly with an address at 63 Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun. Kelly pleaded guilty to four counts of false imprisonment, contrary to Section 15 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, in that the accused unlawfully imprisoned Laura and Jonathan Flynn, and Jim and Nicholette Carroll by detaining them without their consent. Kelly also entered a plea of guilty to one count of robbery, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud ) Act, namely that on the same date he did rob Emma Flynn of €3,200 cash.
The court heard that Kelly had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and that the DPP has consented to the accused continuing on remand on high court bail as he was a young man with no previous convictions. Kelly’s defence barrister also requested that a probation and welfare be prepared as there were serious matters that had occured in his client’s teen years.
Michael McCormack (43 ) with an address at 2 Ballbrook Close, Tallaght, also pleaded guilty to four counts of false imprisonment, contrary to Section 15 of the Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act, namely that on the same date the accused unlawfully imprisoned Emma Flynn, two of her children Jonathan and Max Flynn, and Mary Murphy. McCormack also pleaded guilty to having in his possession a shotgun with intent to commit robbery, and to robbing Emma Flynn of €3,200 cash.
The third man, Thomas Freeman (54 ) with an address at 29 Deansrath Grove, Clondalkin, was brought in custody before Judge Groarke and pleaded guilty to four counts of false imprisonment, contrary to Section 15 of the Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act. The charges are that on February 15, 2009, at Lackagh, Turloughmore, the accused unlawfully imprisoned Julian and Emma Flynn along with two of their children Jonathan and Max Flynn. Freeman also pleaded guilty to having in his possession a Zafar shotgun with intent to commit a robbery and to robbing Emma Flynn of €3,200 cash.
Judge Groarke remanded both Kelly and McCormack on continuing bail to appear again for sentencing on March 12, 2010, and directed that a probation report be prepared. Freeman was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on the same date.
