A 19-year-old Rahoon man who has been charged with allegedly stealing mobile phones as well as tresspassing and stealing bags of coal from residential properties has been remanded on continuing bail.
Stephen McDonagh with an address at 76 Corrach Bui was brought before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court on Monday charged with theft offences including stealing an iPhone 4s and a Blackberry phone at Moyala Park, Newcastle, on November 20, 2012. He was further charged with trespassing with the intent of committing an offence and stealing a bag of coal valued at €20 at a house at Fursey Road, Shantalla on December 8, 2012, entering a property at Rockfield Park as a trespasser with intent to commit an offence and stealing a bag of coal valued at €25 on December 8, 2012, and stealing seven bags of coal, valued at €120, at a property at Castlepark, Ballybane, on December 16, 2012.
The court heard that the accused had been arrested on the morning of the court and when charged and cautioned he gave no reply. Inspector Ernie Whyte informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions has consented to the matter being dealt with summarily in the district court. He added that it will be alleged McDonagh went into the front gardens of a number of properties and stole bags of coal and that he had approached students, accused them of stealing a phone, and then when they produced their phone it would be taken.
Judge Fahy accepted jurisdiction and remanded McDonagh on continuing bail to appear again on March 11 for entering a plea. Conditions of bail included that McDonagh abide by a curfew of between 9pm and 8am and sign on at Galway Garda Station twice a week between 9am and 9pm .
