Stephen McMullen (27) stole €90,000 from a shop manager using “extreme threats of violence”, it is alleged
Stephen McMullen (27) is accused of brandishing the hammer while ordering the manager to take cash from safes in a supermarket in Co Kildare.
He was granted bail despite garda objections and the case against him was adjourned at Dublin District Court today.
Mr McMullen, of Rowlagh Gardens, Clondalkin, is charged with robbery and production of a hammer capable of inflicting serious injury at Costcutter, Castle Village Drive, Celbridge, Co Kildare on July 17 this year.
Objecting to bail, Garda Jennifer Finnegan told Judge John Brennan the store manager was opening up at 4.53am when two men arrived in a Ford Transit van that had been stolen in an earlier burglary in Maynooth.
They entered the shop and one, alleged to be the accused, had a hammer. According to the prosecution, he “threatened the store manager’s life” and told him to open two safes. He also allegedly told the manager to destroy the CCTV.
Footage showed a man armed with a hammer who was a similar height and build to the accused, Gda Finnegan said.
In a later search of the accused’s home address, some €27,870 was found in a Lidl bag in the attic. The money was wrapped in “distinctive white bands” identical to those used by the alleged victim, the garda said.
It was alleged the accused was seen on CCTV arriving at the address in a taxi carrying a Lidl bag.
A phone alleged to be Mr McMullen’s was seized at the address and, according to the gardai, it had “pinged” off a mast in Celbridge less than 2km from the shop, 13 minutes after the alleged robbery.
It was alleged Mr McMullen had posted videos of the stolen cash on Snapchat and told friends he “got €90,000 in a robbery.”
The garda said the accused flew to Lanzarote 24 hours after the robbery and did not take the booked return flight but came home on another flight to attend his brother’s funeral.
Gda Finnegan believed the accused was a flight risk and would flee if bailed. She also feared he had access to the outstanding €63,000 cash and would dispose of it, and that he would contact the alleged victim to intimidate him.
Applying for bail, defence solicitor Catherine Dolan said Mr McMullen, who was presumed innocent, made no admissions in interview. There was no forensic evidence linking him to the hammer, the stolen van or the cash found at his family home.
There were five other adults there and he was living in a granny flat with a separate entrance, she said.
Mr McMullen denied the Snapchat account was his and there was no evidence linking him to it, other than a username that did not require any identification to set up, Ms Dolan said. The accused had gone to Lanzarote for a holiday with his girlfriend who was pregnant and flew home early when his brother died in “tragic circumstances.”
Judge Brennan said the charges were serious but granted bail with a €3,000 independent surety, to be approved by the court.
Under conditions, the accused must surrender his passport, sign on daily at Ronanstown garda station and keep a night-time curfew.
He was remanded in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court next week.
Stock photo
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – August 19th