Man charged over spate of burglaries in Clare, Limerick and Galway refused bail

A 30-year-old man has appeared in court charged with 24 burglary offences relating to premises across Clare, Limerick and Galway.

In one of the charges, Eddie Carey, is is accused of entering Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Shannon - the club of Clare All-Ireland winning senior hurling manager and double All-Ireland winner as a player, Brian Lohan.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Alec Gabbett noted there has been a “big garda investigation” in the case.

Mr Carey, of De Vere Court, John Carew Park, Limerick city is accused of committing seven burglaries on one day - February 2, 2024.

The charges relate to seven separate premises - Carry Out, Drumgeely, Shannon; Subway restaurant, Shannon; High Maintenance, Limerick Road, Ennis; Remix, Limerick Road, Ennis; Tech Station, Killaloe; Corbally Centre, Corbally Road, Limerick and Inver, Ennis Road, Limerick.

Mr Carey is facing the burglary charge against Wolfe Tones where he is accused of trespassing at the Shannon GAA clubhouse on July 9 last and committing theft contrary to Section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

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On the same date, Mr Carey is accused of committing burglaries at Hair Symphony, Clarinbridge, County Galway; Day Break, Crusheen and Gala Chinese, Castle Street, Oranmore, County Galway.

The defendant is accused of carrying out burglaries at five other premises on July 5 last - The Electronic Store, Market Square, Scarriff; Rogers Bar, Main Street, Scariff; Newcastle West Mobile Zone, Newcastle West, County Limerick; Gadget Fix, Main Street, Adare, County Limerick and Poinaire, Main Street, Adare.

In total, Mr Carey is facing 46 separate charges that comprise of 24 burglary charges, 17 handling charges, four charges concerning the unauthorised taking of cars and one charge where he is accused of having in his possession two vehicle unlocking and starter devices.

The charge states that the two unlocking devices were in Mr Carey’s possession at his address on September 17 last and the devices were made or adapted for the use in the authorised taking of vehicles.

Mr Carey appeared via video-link in court from Limerick prison for Wednesday's procedural hearing. He first appeared in court in Ennis at a special sitting last Sunday where he was refused bail following garda objections.

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Solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, for Mr Carey, told the court, on Wednesday, that legal papers have been sent to Dublin for a bail application to be made in the High Court.

Det Garda Roddy Burke told the court that the file in the case “is in progress”.

Judge Alec Gabbett said that he was conscious that Mr Carey will have a lengthy remand in custody pending the case going to trial.

Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr Carey in custody until February 5.