A man charged with robbing two local shops with a screwdriver was told this week (February 3 ) the District Court was refusing jurisdiction and he would have to face trial in the Circuit Court.
Before Judge William Earley was Terry Healy (34 ), of Darragh Park, Wicklow town, who was charged with the alleged robbery of the Crescent shop on the Ballymahon Road and Marie’s shop on Church Street, Moate on November 15.
A handbag was allegedly taken from the Crescent shop, according to Superintendent Aidan Glacken, whilst Healy’s solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn, confirmed his client was already on High Court bail in relation to this matter.
The case was put back from the morning list after Mr McLynn told the court his client was still travelling from Dublin to attend.
In the afternoon, Judge Earley looked at the evidence and decided the maximum sanction available to the District Court was not enough to deal with the seriousness of the alleged offence and refused jurisdiction.
As Healy’s book of evidence had not yet been completed by the Gardai, no date for a Circuit Court appearance was fixed, so Judge Earley remanded Healy on continuing bail until April 4 to allow for its preparation.
