Dublin men charged with conspiracy to rob

Three men have been remanded in custody to appear in court again next week for their alleged roles in the attempted robbery of a cash-in-transit van in Lucan, Dublin, on Monday.

Anthony Fox (34), unemployed, Willow Wood Walk, Hartstown; Derek O'Shea (45), unemployed, Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, and Shane Morgan (24), with addresses at Millbank, Lucan, and Wellview Avenue, Mulhuddart, have been charged with conspiracy to rob and in relation to stealing a vehicle in which they were travelling when arrested on Monday.

It is alleged that the three men were about to rob a Securicor van as it was collecting money from the Spa Hotel, Lucan, on Monday at about 12.45pm. Gardaí from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Lucan Garda station were waiting in the car park at the time it is alleged the gang was about to strike.

When gardaí moved in to arrest the three men, they recovered a firearm from their vehicle, along with CS spray, hammers and balaclavas. The three were arrested at the scene and were held in Lucan, Ronanstown and Ballyfermot Garda stations.

They were detained under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act and were brought before Kilmainham District Court at 2.30pm yesterday.

Det Garda Cathal Sheridan, Lucan, told Judge John Coughlan that he put the charges to Mr O'Shea at 12.40pm yesterday in Clondalkin. There was no application for bail and Mr O'Shea was remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court next Wednesday.

Det Garda Gabby Newton, Lucan, said when she put the charges to Mr Morgan at 12.35pm at Ballyfermot Garda station, he had "nothing to say". She had no objection to Mr Morgan's application for bail. Judge Coughlan remanded him in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court next Wednesday but with consent to bail on €100,000 of his "own bail" and a €200,000 independent surety.

He also attached a number of conditions including signing on at Blanchardstown Garda station twice each day and adhering to a curfew between 3pm and 6am.

Det Garda Geraldine Ennis, Lucan, said she put the charges to Mr Fox yesterday in Lucan and he had "nothing to say". He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court next Wednesday.

All three applied for legal aid.

Judge Coughlan said he would make a decision only after he had seen financial records relating to all bank accounts and building society accounts held by the men. "I want to know everything to do with their wealth and I mean, literally, what they had for breakfast," he said.