Limerick man charged with 24 burglaries including one at GAA club of Brian Lohan

Gordon Deegan

A 30-year-old Limerick man has appeared in court charged with 24 burglaries at premises across Clare, Limerick, and Galway last year.

In one of the charges against Eddie Carey, he is charged with burglary at Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Shannon - the club of Clare All-Ireland winning senior hurling manager, and double All Ireland winner as a player, Brian Lohan.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Alec Gabbett said that there has been a “big Garda investigation” in the case.

On one day alone on February 2nd 2024, Mr Carey of De Vere Court, John Carew Park, Limerick is facing burglary charges concerning seven separate premises - Carry Out, Drumgeely, Shannon; Subway restaurant, Shannon; Hi Maintenance, Limerick Rd, Ennis; Remix, Limerick Rd, Ennis; Tech Station, Killaloe; Corbally Centre, Corbally Rd, Limerick and Inver, Ennis Rd, Limerick.

Mr Carey is facing the burglary charge against Wolfe Tones where he is accused of trespassing at the Shannon GAA clubhouse on July 9th last and committing theft contrary to Section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

On the same date, Mr Carey is accused of committing burglaries at Hair Symphony, Clarinbridge, Galway; Daybreak, Crusheen and Gala Chinese, Castle Street, Oranmore, Co Galway.

On another date on July 5th last, Mr Carey is accused of carrying out burglaries at five premises - The Electronic Store, Market Square, Scarriff; Rogers Bar, Main Street, Scariff; Newcastle West Mobile Zone, Newcastle West; Gadget Fix, Main Street, Adare and Poinaire, Main Street, Adare.

In total, Mr Carey is facing 46 separate charges that comprise of 24 burglary charges, 17 handling charges, four charges concerning the unauthorised taking of cars and one charge where he is accused of having in his possession two vehicle unlocking and starter devices.

The charge states that the two unlocking devices were in Mr Carey’s possession at his address on September 17th last and the devices were made or adapted for the use in the authorised taking of vehicles.

Mr Carey was appearing via video-link in court from Limerick Prison today.

Mr Carey first appeared in court in Ennis at a special sitting last Sunday where he was refused bail following Garda objections.

Solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick for Mr Carey told the court today that legal papers have been sent to Dublin for a bail application to be made in the High Court.

Detective Garda Roddy Burke told the court today that the file in the case “is in progress”.

Judge Alec Gabbett said that he was conscious that Mr Carey will have a lengthy remand in custody pending the case going to trial.

Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr Carey in custody to February 5th to Ennis District Court.