Courts / Armagh / Report

All-Ireland club football champ goes on trial accused of stealing ATMs for gang

Date
2022-01-13

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Crossmaglen

County
Armagh

Summary

A former All-Ireland club football champion has pleaded not guilty to 17 charges arising from a series of ATM thefts across the Meath and Cavan region. Daniel O'Callaghan (31), with an address in Co Armagh, denies involvement in the alleged criminal enterprise. His trial began at the Special Criminal Court, a three-judge non-jury forum. The prosecution alleges that Mr O'Callaghan was part of a gang that stole ATMs using consistent methods between December 2018 and August 2019. A planned theft at Virginia in Co Cavan was disrupted by gardaí on 14 August 2019. The prosecution claims gardaí observed Mr O'Callaghan emerge from a stolen vehicle near the Riverfront Bar and flee into a field. Charges include the attempted theft at Virginia, possession of stolen vehicles and equipment, and handling cash totalling over €400,000 recovered at a premises in Co Meath. Mr O'Callaghan also faces allegations of facilitating criminal organisation activity. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: All-Ireland club football champ goes on trial accused of stealing ATMs for gang. Charges or matters: the attempted ATM theft at the Riverfront Hotel, Virginia, Co Cavan on August 14, 2019 for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organisation; being in possession of bolt-cutters with the intent of stealing a 14-tonne digger, with the attempted dishonest appropriation of the ATM at the Riverfront in Virginia and with being in possession of a stolen flatbed trailer; handling or possessing €298,900, €103,930 and €22,000. Procedural stage: trial

When:

December 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
August 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
August 14, 2019 Incident
April 2019 Other
August 14 Incident
April 3, 2019 Incident
2022-01-13 Publication

Case subjects

Daniel O'Callaghan

Defendant

Charges: the attempted ATM theft at the Riverfront Hotel, Virginia, Co Cavan on August 14, 2019 for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organisation; being in possession of bolt-cutters with the intent of stealing a 14-tonne digger, with the attempted dishonest appropriation of the ATM at the Riverfront in Virginia and with being in possession of a stolen flatbed trailer; handling or possessing €298,900, €103,930 and €22,000 (Alleged Or Contested)