Two Dublin men, charged in connection with an armed raid on a businessman’s home last Sunday, have been remanded in custody and will appear in court again tomorrow (Friday ) at Harristown District Court, in Roscommon.
Thomas Freeman (53 ) with an address at 29 Deansrath Grove, Clondalkin, and Gregory Kelly (24 ) with an address at 63 Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, were escorted by gardai into Galway District Court yesterday charged with the with two counts of false imprisonment of Julien and Emma Flynn at their home in Lackagh, Turloughmore, Co Galway, on February 15.
The two men, who were dressed in dark tracksuits and jumpers, were also charged with robbery of cash on the same date.
Giving evidence of arrest, charge, and caution, Garda Alan Keane said that Freeman had replied “no comment” to each of the charges.
Garda Bernice Mulderrig then gave evidence of the arrest, charge, and caution of Gregory Kelly. She said that the defendant had replied “I understand” to one of the charges but gave no reply to the other two.
Inspector Ernie White applied for both men to be remanded in custody. The solicitors for both defendants said that they were consenting to the remand.
During the short hearing Freeman, who was visibly bruised, looked down and covered his face with his hand. His solicitor Olivia Traynor handed to the court a statement of means and made an application for legal aid which was granted.
Solicitor for Kelly, Adrian MacLynn, applied for legal aid and requested that his client receive medical attention as he suffers from depression.
Judge Mary Fahy granted the legal aid stating that the charges were serious and that the defendant was unemployed. She then said that medical attention would be a matter for the authorities to determine.
The two men were both remanded in custody by consent to appear again at Harristown District Court on Friday, February 20 at 10.30am for DPP directions. A third man was arrested yesterday in connection with the armed raid. The man, who is in his 40s, was being treated for injuries at Galway University Hospitals.
He was arrested shortly after 3pm yesterday afternoon and last night was being questioned at Mill Street Garda Station.
Earlier yesterday morning, gardai discovered a car, which is believed to have been used in the raid, in a wooded area near Dundrum in Co Tipperary. It has been taken away for technical examination. The search is continuing for several individuals who are believed to have taken part in the incident.
Meanwhile, Julien Flynn has told the Galway Advertiser that he would like to extend his thanks to all of the people who helped him and his family over the past few days.
He said that, on behalf of his family, he would like to express his gratititude to the members of the gardai, and to all those in the community who had contacted him with messages of goodwill since Sunday night’s incident; and those who had helped in any way.
