Court told defendant ‘picks on vulnerable’
A MAN accused of stealing a mobile phone from the locker of a patient at St John’s Hospital was refused bail by Judge Gerard Haughton at the District Court. Darren Bryan (28) with addresses listed at 36 Hempfield Close and 6 Castle Street, Enniscorthy, was brought before the Judge last week charged with a total of six charges.
It was alleged that Bryan had gained access to St John’s Hospital on August 1 and stolen a phone worth €300 from a patient there. ‘ The injured party in this case had recently been involved in a fatal road traffic collision which saw her daughter killed,’ said Garda Tom McRory. On the same date, Bryan was charged with stealing a purse containing €270 from the records room at the hospital. Garda McRory said there was ‘substantial evidence’ in the case, including CCTV footage, and that Bryan had been found in possession of the phone and a bank card from the stolen purse.
The defendant was also charged with damaging a phone belonging to Supt Gerry McGrath at Enniscorthy Garda Station on August 2, possession of cannabis at Apt 8, 6 Castle Street, on August 1 and two counts of theft from Dealz in Enniscorthy dating from April 14 and May 18 of this year.
In outlining why gardaí were objecting to bail, Garda McRory said that he would have ‘concerns for members of the public’ if Bryan was released on bail.
He said he ‘picks on the most vulnerable in society’ and said that ‘ there is no line he won’t cross’.
Garda McRory added that it was their belief that Bryan is a heroin addict, however, this is something which barrister Jordan Fletcher said his client denied.
Garda McRory also said that Bryan had been arrested in connection with a ‘violent robbery’ at Daybreak in Drumgoold back in June and he expected that charges would follow. Mr Fletcher strongly objected to this being raised.
Mr Fletcher said that his client had been on detox since entering custody in Cloverhill and said that if granted bail, he would reside with his mother and sign on twice daily at the garda station, as well as obey a curfew. He said that Bryan strongly denied that he was ever a heroin addict.
Upon hearing all the submissions, Judge Haughton opted to refuse bail saying that he was ‘very strongly satisfied’ that if the defendant was released on bail that ‘ there would be serious risk’ of offences being committed. Bryan was thus remanded back to Cloverhill Prison to appear before Gorey District Court once again on September 19.