Andrew Carey
andrew@limerickpost.ie
THE CATASTROPHIC collapse of a Limerick man’s business led him to carry out a number of armed robberies, a court has been told.
John Carroll (49) of Clonshire, Adare was arrested by armed Gardaà last October as he attempted to rob a petrol station near the Limerick/Clare border while in possession of a rifle.
His arrest followed eight armed robberies and three attempted robberies at various locations in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Cork.
The married father-of-two is also accused of committing two burglaries at the homes of his mother and father-in-law and his sister in law in September of last year when he stole jewellery, documents, a rifle and a safe.
Objecting to the granting of bail, at Limerick District Court this week Sergeant Niall Flood said that Carroll is alleged to have “popped a window” in the home of his sister-in-law and taken jewellery and the keys to his father-in-law’s home which he later entered without permission.
Judge Mary Larkin was told that he also accused of carrying out several robberies of petrol stations where he demanded that cashiers fill plastic or paper bags with money from the till.
Sgt Flood said that cashiers told Gardaà that he used what they believed to be a handgun to carry out the robberies. They said they were in fear of their lives when the robberies were taking place.
Gardaà feared that Carroll would commit more serious crimes if released.
However, Defence solicitor John Herbert said that his client had not sought bail following his arrest and had since engaged with a psychiatric counsellor.
“John Carroll had a relatively ordinary life after school. He later set up his own business before being effectively cleaned out in late 2014 and the start of 2015. He had no source of income after his business catastrophically collapsed”, Mr Herbert said.
He had certain mental health difficulties in the past and these were revisited once the the pressure of everything got on top of him.
Mr Herbert said that notwithstanding the impression that the victims got when seeing the guns, Carroll used imitation weapons and the rifle he was found with had been decommissioned.
He added that his client had fully engaged with services since he was remanded in custody and “did not want to go back out into the dark of night to rob petrol stations”.
Refusing the application for bail, Judge Larkin said she accepted the State’s evidence and told Mr Herbert that he would have to take his “argument to the High Court”.
John Carroll was remanded in continuing custody to March 15 when the State is expected to serve the book of evidence.
