Charge or release due for six held over theft

Six men arrested by gardaí on Wednesday and questioned in connection with the theft of almost €2.3 million from a Securicor van in Dublin last month were due to be charged this morning or released from the Dublin Garda stations where they were being held.

The men were also questioned about the false imprisonment and abduction of members of the Richardson family from Raheny, Dublin, on March 13th immediately before the robbery.

The six were held under the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

When gardaí wanted to extend their period of detention for a third and final 24-hour period they were required to bring the men before the courts.

Each of the six men appeared individually before Judge JP McDonnell at the Dublin District Court at the Bridewell at a late sitting beginning at 9pm on Thursday.

The sitting continued until just before 1am yesterday. All of the six men had their periods of detention extended.

The men are: Gerard Kinsella, Sillogue Road, Ballymun; Thomas Fogarty, Riverside Park, Coolock; Christopher Corcoran, Bayside Boulevard North, Bayside; Christopher Farrelly, Aspen Road, Kinsealy; Gerard Grant, Glin Avenue, Coolock; and Alan Costello, Cromcastle Road.

The Garda was legally represented in court by Chief Supt Peter Maguire, who is based at Santry, where the investigation into the crimes outlined has its headquarters. Chief Supt Maguire is also a trained barrister.

Under questioning by Mr Maguire, Supt Nicholas Conneely of Raheny Garda station said the investigation into the events which had been outlined was a very complex one.

He described the chain of events and the robbery as "horrific" and "heinous". The robbery had been one of the biggest in the history of the State.

More than 250 gardaí had raided more than 60 premises on Wednesday. More than 20 people had been arrested.

In excess of €200,000 in cash had been recovered along with four or five firearms and a large quantity of drugs.

Sgt Noel Nolan of Santry station said he arrested Gerard Kinsella at his flat on Sillogue Road at 7.55am on Wednesday.

He was satisfied he had failed to disclose information in relation to the possession of firearms at Ashcroft, Raheny, on March 13th.

He added that €11,000 was found at Mr Kinsella's flat. Firearms were found in a lock-up rented by Mr Kinsella.

Gardaí believed Mr Kinsella had been in protracted contact with those who carried out crimes at Ashcroft on March 13th, and that he was "centrally involved".

The court was told that when Thomas Fogarty, Coolock, was arrested at 7.30am on Wednesday gardaí believed that he, too, had failed to disclose information relating to the unlawful possession of firearms at Ashcroft on March 13th.

Supt Conneely said that gardaí believed that Mr Fogarty had provided logistical support to a group of people who had held a family hostage at Ashcroft.

Det Sgt Michael Mulligan of Whitehall station said he arrested Christopher Corcoran in Bayside on Wednesday at 7.45am.

Supt Conneely said gardaí believed Mr Corcoran had provided "logistical support to the people actually involved in holding the family for 12 hours" at Ashcroft on March 13th.

Det Garda Derek Spain of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation said that he arrested Christopher Farrelly at Harcourt Street at 9.45am on Wednesday.

He believed that he was withholding information regarding the unlawful possession of firearms at Ashcroft on March 13th.

He was taken to Kevin Street Garda station.

Gardaí believed he had provided logistical support to those who held the family at Ashcroft.

In a search of a property linked to the accused a substantial amount of money was found. Supt Conneely said it was his belief that this money was part of the cash stolen in the robbery of the Securicor van.

Det Sgt Gary Kelly of Howth station said another of the accused, Gerard Grant, was arrested at 6.40am in Coolock on Wednesday.

He was satisfied Mr Grant was in unlawful possession of firearms at Ashcroft, Raheny, on March 13th.

Supt Conneely said he was satisfied Grant was "one of the main people involved in this incident, if not the main person".

Det Sgt William McKenna told the court he had arrested Alan Costello at 6.45am on Wednesday in Coolock.

He was satisfied the accused had been in unlawful possession of firearms at Ashcroft on March 13th.

It was the contention of gardaí that Costello was a central figure in the case and that he had been at the house at Ashcroft.