Pensioner ‘threatened with kneecapping’

A PENSIONER was told he would be ‘kneecapped’ during a violent burglary if he did not withdraw €16,000, a court heard yesterday.

The incident was ‘an extremely frightening ordeal for the injured party’, a garda told a bail hearing yesterday.

Carlos Lawrence. 26. was further remanded in custody yesterday charged with taking part in the violent burglary when the 65-yearold man was allegedly forced to withdraw more than €16,000 from his bank.

Mr Lawrence, from Rosary Road, Marylands, Dublin 8, and his partner Catherine Dempsey, a 25-year-old mother-of-two from Michael Mallin House, Vicar Street, Dublin 8, were charged three weeks ago over an alleged burglary in Terenure, south Dublin, while in possession of wedge hammer on December 13 last.

They were both remanded in custody two days after the alleged incident.

Mr Lawrence, who had not applied for bail, faced his third hearing when he appeared before Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court yesterday.

He was further remanded in custody to appear at the same court on January 19.

His co-accused is back before Dublin District Court on January 17.

In her case, bail was refused in the district court following objections from Garda John Walsh.

The officer cited the seriousness of the case and fears she would attempt to evade justice or interfere with witnesses.

Garda Walsh alleged Mr Lawrence and Ms Dempsey entered the man’s home by breaking glass in a rear patio door with a hammer.

It was alleged an alarm was deactivated and they had their faces covered.

Garda Walsh had said it was alleged the man had been told ‘he would be kneecapped if he did not comply and his extended family was being watched’.

The court heard the man was struck in the face with a hammer and his phone was taken as well as €150 from his wallet.

During the bail hearing, the court had heard that the man was allegedly forced to withdraw €1,200 from an ATM machine and then taken to the AIB branch in nearby Rathgar to take out €15,000.