Man accused of café burglaries causing €40,000 in damages

Tom Tuite

A man accused of five burglaries at cafés in Dublin’s Smithfield area within three weeks allegedly caused about €40,000 worth of damage, a court has heard.

Carl Geoghegan (37), of Pembroke Gardens, Dublin 4, allegedly broke into both Costa Coffee and Urbanity on the nights of April 18th and April 5th. He also has a single charge for another burglary at Urbanity late on April 23rd.

He appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court and faced objections to bail from Garda Stephen Lacey.

The investigating officer told the court the accused made no reply to the charges when he was arrested on May 22nd.

He told a contested bail hearing that about €30,000 worth of damage was caused during the last incident.

It was alleged that “two males entered by using a shatter hammer and stole the till and its contents and made good their escape”.

It was alleged the accused was stopped later in the Oliver Bond area in Dublin 8 and gave a false name.

The court heard that the other break-ins caused were done by smashing windows and doors or forcing a door.

Garda Lacey said the damage from the incidents added up to about €40,000.

He agreed with defence solicitor Sandra Frayne that when the accused was stopped after one incident, he did not have a shatter hammer on him.

He also accepted that the intruders were shown on CCTV wearing surgical masks and hoods.

The defence told the court Mr Geoghegan denied the charge.

The solicitor pleaded that the case was likely to go to the Circuit Court. A refusal of bail would result in her presumed innocent client facing a lengthy wait until his trial.

Judge Kelly set bail in his bond of €500 but required approval of a €400 independent surety.

On taking it up, he must stay out of Smithfield and the surrounding Dublin 7 area, remain contactable 24 hours a day, and sign on three days a week at his local Garda station.

She remanded him in custody with consent to bail. Legal aid was granted to the unemployed defendant, who did not address the court.