Three Irish men have appeared in court after allegedly stealing $1 million worth of cash, jewellery and designer bags in a series of “sophisticated residential burglaries” in Australia this year.
Christie McDonagh, Michael McDonagh and James Connors were remanded in custody on Friday following a hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court, according to Australian Associated Press.
The men, aged 19, 24 and 25, did not apply for bail, and in August will face a committal case conference.
The men, with no fixed address, arrived in Australia in the last six months, Victoria Police said in a statement.
An Irishwoman sailing around the world: ‘This paradise has just seven residents and two dogs’
Tailbacks from Forty Foot stretch for miles as Christmas swimmers descend
‘What has you here?’: Eight years dead and safe in a Galway graveyard, yet here Grandad was standing before me
Róisín Ingle: My profound, challenging, surprisingly joyful, life-changing year
Following arrest at a hotel near Melbourne Airport, the men were charged on Thursday with multiple counts of aggravated home invasion, aggravated burglary, burglary and theft from a motor vehicle.
Victoria Police will allege that the men broke into homes in east Melbourne while residents were away, and then tried to hide evidence of the burglary with cleaning products.
Police will allege they were part of a wider syndicate which led to the arrests of three other Irish men in March.
“Investigators are continuing to probe whether both groups are linked to any other unsolved burglaries,” a police spokesperson said.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
