Bail granted to trio accused of break-in

Bail was allowed to three defendants accused of breaking into a house in Ballycanew, but only after thousands of euro in cash bail was produced.

Before the court accused of burglary at 1 Riverview, Ballycanew were Thomas Phayres (39) from Gorey and Alec Lawless with an address of 18 Branogue Park in Courtown.

They were further charged with assault causing harm to Mark Owens in Riverview in the early hours of April 7.

Also brought before Judge Brian O’Shea in custody was Lawless’s partner Sinead Martin, originally from New Zealand.

The granting of bail was opposed by prosecuting Garda Tagdh Moran.

He alleged that Mark Owens was attacked with a hammer and a vacuum cleaner pipe during a break-in as the house was ransacked.

The injured party had been hit over the head, continued the garda, and he had been detained in hospital with a suspected collapsed lung.

He knew the two defendants, the court was told, and the prosecution felt convinced that the incident was pre-meditated.

His partner continued to reside in Ballycanew but she remained absolutely terrified, according to Garda Moran.

Phayres was described in court as a self-employed plasterer with two children.

Judge Brian O’Shea learned that Alec Lawless came originally from Boolavogue where his parents run a shop and post office.

After his arrest, he told the garda that had been in Australia but he was back in Ireland to attend a family funeral.

His father Alec Lawless senior was in court and prepared to go bail.

Sinead Martin was freed after posting €500 cash bail with a €2,000 cash surety.

Alec Lawless junior was freed after posting €5,000 bail with a €5,000 cash surety.

Thomas Phayres was remanded in custody with consent to bail, the terms being €2,500 cash with a €2,500 cash surety.

Phayres’s brother was in court and it was indicated that the accused would live with his mother at 20 Woodbury, Gorey while on bail.

The defendants were order to hand over travel documents and to stay away from River View in Ballycanew.

Phayres appeared in court again before Judge O’Shea at a sitting of Gorey District Court on Wednesday, April 10, where he took up bail and walked out of court.