Six charged in connection with theft of more than 1,200 plasma televisions

SIX MEN have appeared in court in connection with the theft of more than 1,200 plasma television screens from a warehouse in north Dublin on Tuesday.

The six were arrested following a surveillance operation that involved gardaí from the Organised Crime Unit, which raided a house in Naas, Co Kildare.

In total, 1,280 televisions were recovered.

Gardaí now estimate the value of the televisions at about €250,000 – lower than their original estimate of €1.2 million to €1.6 million.

All six were arrested on Tuesday morning and brought to various Garda stations for questioning.

They were charged with handling stolen goods under Section 17 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

They appeared before Judge Patrick Clyne at Naas District Court yesterday morning.

Four were released on bail to appear before court next week.Alan O’Brien (36), Tír na nÓg, Donore Road, Carragh, Naas, Co Kildare; John Toal (50), Rialto Court, Dublin; Peter Kelly, Rowlagh Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin; and Dean Gilligan (25), Cherrywood Park, Clondalkin, were ordered to put up their own bond of €5,000 each, with an independent surety of €10,000.

They were also ordered to surrender their passports, sign on at their local Garda station three times a week and reside at their own address.

In addition, Mr Toal was ordered to surrender his British driver’s licence and other forms of ID.

Kenneth Owens (33), of Rutland Avenue, Crumlin, Dublin, was refused bail and remanded in continuing custody, while Paul Drew of Ferns Close, Monasterevin, Co Kildare, and originally from Tallaght, made no application for bail.

An application by Garda that the six make no attempt to contact each other was refused by Judge Clyne, who said it would be “almost impossible” to police it given modern technologies such as the internet and mobile phones.

All six men are due to appear again before Cloverhill District Court on May 28th.