Wicklow man accused of burgling garda’s home has bail change refused
The Wicklow PeopleA Wicklow man accused of burgling the home of a serving garda has had an application to vary his bail refused.
Paddy Lynch (43), of Vevay Road, Bray, appeared at Bray District Court charged with burglary, handling stolen property and one count of theft.
It is alleged that the defendant burglarised a house belonging to a serving member of An Garda Síochána.
He is also accused of handling stolen property, including an iPhone, Fitbit, four packets of Lucky Strike cigarettes, one police medal, a debit card and various other items.
Furthermore, Mr Lynch is accused of burglarising two other houses in Wicklow.
Solicitor for the accused, Joe Maguire, said that his client was seeking to have his bail varied.
He was remanded into custody with consent to bail on the condition that he have an independent surety of €500.
Mr Lynch said that he is currently engaging with the Bray Community Addiction Team as he wants to enter treatment.
The court heard that Mr Lynch’s partner is currently pregnant, which has made him want to engage with rehabilitation services as “it’s something he never had before”.
During cross-examination, Sergeant Mick Canavan said he was objecting to the bail variation “due to the seriousness of the alleged offending”.
Mr Lynch told Judge Paula Cullinane that he lost 11 members of his family in the Carrickmines fire of October 2015, shortly before his brother was murdered.
Mr Maguire submitted that his client was previously homeless, but now has stable accommodation. He added that Mr Lynch was willing to accept a curfew and a daily sign-on.
Judge Cullinane denied the application, remarking that she would not feel comfortable overruling a decision made by her colleague, Judge Derek Cooney.