‘Burglary foiled by sleeping man, 90’
THREE burglars fled from a rural Co. Clare farmhouse after discovering a man in his 90s asleep in the home.
That was the allegation heard at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday, where three members of one Limerick family, along with a fourth Limerick man, appeared charged with burglary at Ballyveskil, Tiermaclane, near Ennis, on Friday afternoon.
In evidence at a bail hearing for the four, Inspector Kieran Ruane said the State is expected to allege that the burglary was planned and that one of the group lured Vincent O’Connor to a nearby field on the pretence of buying silage. In evidence, Det. Garda Gary Stack said that John Woodland, 38, – of Clarina Avenue, Ballinacurra Avenue, Co. Limerick – had first contacted Mr O’Connor about buying silage in early December.
The State is expected to allege that, while John Woodland was speaking to Mr O’Connor, father and son, Patrick Woodland, 43, and Edward Woodland, 18, of Greenmount Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, along with Paul Kiely, 30, of Glencairn, Dooradoyle, Limerick, forcibly entered the home.
Judge Mary Larkin refused bail to brothers Patrick and John Woodland and remanded Edward Woodland and Paul Kiely in custody with consent to bail.
Patrick and John Woodland will appear via video link at the court on Wednesday. Mr Kiely and Edward Woodland were also remanded to appear at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.