THREE men, one who Gardai consider to be the leader of a major Leinster based criminal gang, have appeared at Kilmallock district court charged in relation to armed raids and false imprisonment at three homes in County Limerick almost four years ago.
Patrick Roche (51) and his son Philip (23) appeared before Judge Marian O’Leary, on charges relating to the armed raids at Sunville House, Pallasgreen and at the Creed family home at Ballyluddy, Passlagreen where three elderly siblings were tied up on May 31, 2012.
It is alleged that Patrick Roche, of Kilcornan Close, Clondalkin, was part of the gang that terrorised families in County Limerick during a burglary spree in 2012.
He is charged with burglary at the Creed family home on May 31, 2012 when, according to GardaÃ, Nora, Christina and William Creed were tied up and assaulted after an armed gang raided their house.
Patrick Roche also faces charges of aggravated burglary at Sunville House, Pallasgreen on April 16, 2012, the false imprisonment of Gerard Garvey, his wife Ann and three of their children Gillian, Grace and Graham.
He is also charged with handling a Volkswagen jeep that was stolen from an industrial estate in Mallow some days before the burglary at the Creed home and with handling a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser jeep at the Horse and Jockey in Tipperary in May 2012.
His son Philip was charged with aggravated burglary at the Creed home at Ballyluddy, Pallasgreen on May 31 and with the false imprisonment of Nora, Christina and William Creed.
Philip Roche was also charged with aiding and abetting his father and other gang members in the commission of the serious crime at Sunville House in Pallasgreen; the possession of a stolen BMW that was used in the Sunville House raid.
He is also facing two further charges relating to the alleged possession and intention to sell or supply €6,000 worth of cannabis that was found in a cooker when an address linked to the accused was searched by GardaÃ.
Separately, Alan Freeman (35), with an address at Pearse Park, Tipperary, is charged with the alleged false imprisonment of Ian Cruise on April 13, 2012 and with aggravated burglary at the victim’s address in Killuragh, Cappamore, County Limerick. He is also charged with handling the stolen Toyota Land Cruiser jeep.
The State will allege that Ian Cruise’ home was raided by a gang of men armed with a shotgun, a baseball bat and a sledge hammer. Originally from Dublin, Mr Cruise had been living in rented accommodation when raiders smashed in his back door, put a gun to his head and demanded he hand over the keys of a BMW car parked outside.
The three men were remanded in custody until next week to appear before the court by video link.
