Three men appeared before a special sitting of Sligo District Court earlier this Thursday evening charged with aggravated burglary at the home of Tom Niland at Doonflynn, Skreen, on January 18th last.
All three, with addresses in County Mayo, were remanded in custody to appear again at Sligo District Court next Wednesday.
The three brought before this evening’s special sitting of Sligo District Court were: 28-years old John Irving, Shanwar, Foxford; 33-years old John Clarke, Carrowkelly, Ballina; and 54-years old Francis Harmon, 10 Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina.
All three men were charged that on the 18th of January last at Doonflynn, Skreen, they committed burglary at the home of Tom Niland and had a weapon of offence, a knife.
Detective Sergeant Michael Kelly gave evidence of arresting and charging all three separately at Sligo, Ballymote and Carrick on Shannon garda stations.
Det. Sgt. Kelly said all three made no reply to the charge put to them after caution.
First dealt with at this evening’s court sitting was John Clarke, who was represented by barrister Mr Keith O Grady, instructed by Mr Shane McDermott, of Mullaneys Solicitors, Sligo.
Senior Investigating Officer in the case, Inspector Paul Kilcoyne, told Judge Sandra Murphy there was an objection to bail.
However, Mr O Grady said there would not be an application for bail.
‘There will be an applictaion but not this evening,’ he told Judge Murphy.
Legal aid was granted after the court heard Clarke was on disability.
The court also heard there would be no application for bail at this time for Francis Harmon, who was represented by Mr Peter Loftus, Solicitor.
Legal aid was also granted to Harmon who, the court heard, was on JobSeekers.
In the case of John Irving, Mr Edward Bradbury, Solicitor, also said there was no application for bail and that there was a consent to a remand in custody.
Mr Bradbury said they may be able to make an application for bail on Wednesday next.
Legal aid was also granted to Irving who, the court was told, was on JobSeekers.
There was a large presence of gardai and media for this evening’s court hearing. Among those inside the court were senior gardai, including Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken and Superintendent Mandy Gaynor, Sligo.
A number of onlookers who had gathered in the bitter cold outside the courthouse verbally vented their anger at the three accused as they were taken up the steps and inside the building.
Meanwhile, Tom Niland remains on life support in Sligo University Hospital.
