Two brothers charged with last week's €300,000 vodka hijack in Co Meath were granted bail yesterday after a judge accepted further information on funds provided by their first cousin.
Construction workers Simon Maxwell (40), Killynon Cooke, Mullingar, and his brother Thomas (42), Stonehall, Multyfarnham, have been remanded to appear at Mullingar District Court on May 4th.
A third defendant, Philip Hickey (44), Grennanstown, Athboy, Co Meath, has not applied for bail and was remanded in custody to April 27th.
The three are charged with handling 22 pallets of stolen vodka after gardaí foiled the hijack of a lorry in Dunshaughlin.
A cousin of the Maxwells - Brian Ahern, Ashleigh Drive, Skehard Road, Cork - told Longford District Court on Tuesday he was willing to offer a €30,000 surety to secure their bail.
But Judge John Neilan adjourned the application to Mullingar District Court yesterday as he wanted further details on how two substantial lodgements of over €25,000 were made over the last year into accounts held by Mr Ahern. He also queried if Mr Ahern's wife, Valerie, knew that an account jointly held in her name was being used in the proceedings. Ms Ahern appeared in court yesterday and is happy to allow the joint account be used.
Mr Ahern said the two lodgements stemmed from an insurance payout after his wife was seriously injured in a car crash, and a gift from his mother.