Brothers before non-jury court over attempted thefts of ATMs

Four men appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Tuesday charged with involvement in attempted ATM thefts across Cavan and Monaghan during 2019. Gerard Duffy, aged 29, Ciaran Duffy, aged 26, both of Greagh, Loughnamore, County Monaghan, Stephen Duffy, aged 34, of Castleblayney, and Niall Finnegan, aged 38, of County Armagh, face charges under the Offences Against the State Act. The accused are alleged to have participated in a criminal organisation linked to attempted thefts at Virginia and Castleblayney, and the unlawful movement and possession of cash. The charges carry dates spanning April 2019 and August 2019. Legal representatives indicated that bail would be sought for all defendants, with applications for free legal aid also filed. The court heard that gardaí required verification of proposed bail sureties. Justice Tony Hunt adjourned proceedings to 31 August to allow inspection of the sureties and confirmed that legal aid, if granted, would be backdated to the hearing date.