Witness fear cited as man (22) accused of knife raid on local shop is denied bail

Tom Tuite

A 22-year-old man accused of a knife-armed raid on his local shop in Dublin on Friday has been denied bail amid witness intimidation concerns.

Markuss Lama, from Myrtle Avenue, Stapolin, Dublin 13, was allegedly caught red-handed, Judge Conor Fottrell heard on Saturday.

Mr Lama, who has yet to enter a plea, was charged with attempted robbery of Mace on Marsfield Avenue, Dublin 13 and criminal damage to a glass window and eight bottles of alcoholic spirits in the shop.

Garda Kieran McQuaid said the accused made no reply when charged. The garda voiced objections to bail, telling the judge that Mr Lama allegedly entered the shop at about 9.30 pm, “armed with a knife”, demanded money from staff, and smashed his way out of the shop.

Garda McQuaid said that the accused was found in bushes in the vicinity, and he was wearing the same clothing as the person in the shop’s CCTV footage.

He also said the knife was located at the same location.

Garda McQuaid said Mr Lama was currently of no fixed abode, but his family lived 10 minutes from the shop. The garda feared the accused would go to the shop and interfere with witnesses who had provided statements but did not attend the bail hearing.

The video footage was not played in court. The defence pointed out that each of these points contained hearsay.

However, Garda McQuaid said he had viewed the video evidence.

Defence solicitor Andrew Walsh suggested conditions could allay the garda’s fears, and he stressed his client had the presumption of innocence and bail.

However, Judge Fottrell held it was a matter of probability that the accused would evade justice, and he noted the first-hand evidence of the garda about the possibility of witness interference.

Legal aid was granted, and the accused was remanded in custody pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He is to appear again on October 15th at Cloverhill District Court.