Two charged with stealing from Killarney tourists

Two men appeared before a special sitting of the District Court in Tralee yesterday, charged with thefts of tourist property at viewing spots, breaking into cars, possession of house breaking implements and other offences in the Killarney area in July and August.

The men, who the court was told are cousins and Czech natives, are also accused of criminal damage and of taking the charity box money from a church near Killarney last Thursday.

Roman Polyak (30), of Pinewood Estate Killarney is charged with 11 offences and he made "no reply" to the charges after his arrest on Friday, Garda Nigel Hennessy, of Killarney Gardaí, told the court yesterday.

The second accused, Alan Duna (28) of Sunnyhill Lower, Killarney - an unemployed father of three - made no reply to seven charges, the court heard.

The State objected to an application for bail. Inspector Tony Sugrue said there was a likelihood of further crime and of flight. Both men had moved addresses – Polyak had held “at least eleven different addresses” in the Killarney area, the inspector said.

Extradition warrants to bring him from the Czech Republic to face other charges, had been issued for Polyak previously, but he had returned voluntarily to face those charges, he explained to his defence solicitor Pat Mann.

Polyak said he has been working in an Italian restaurant in Killarney, was paid €300 a week and is not claiming welfare. He told gardaí he was addicted to drugs and questioned by Insp Sugrue he said the drug was “weed” and he spent five to ten euro on the habit each day.

The second accused, Duna, had failed to turn up to court on four previous occasions in relation to another matter. He has been living in Ireland for 11 years and said he did not know about the previous court dates.

The various charges, on dates in July and August, include stealing the poor box in Fossa Church on August 18th and taking the charity collection box from the church on August 21st, possession of offensive weapons and house breaking implements and handling of stolen property.

Polyak is accused of having stolen Australian dollars in his possession and having a crow bar and a Swiss Army Knife, of taking property from tourist cars at Torc Waterfall and Muckross, and of handling stolen property in Macroom. Duna is accused of breaking into a tourist car at Blackwater Bridge and taking an ipad, iphone, Sat Nav and cash, and of taking an iphone from an individual in The Smoke House restaurant Killarney.

Judge Angela Condon refused bail and remanded them in custody to appear in Tralee next Thursday. Legal Aid certificates were granted for both men.