A JUDGE has returned a 25-year-old Limerick man charged in connection with an estimated €1million plus alleged crime spree in Limerick, Clare, and Galway to trial.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett returned Tyreke Casey Curtin, of Caisleán na hAbhann, Castletroy, Limerick, for trial in connection with 31 charges that includes seven alleged burglaries at different locations on one day, July 9, 2024.
Two of the charges that Mr Casey Curtin is facing are the alleged €16,000 criminal damage and burglary on July 9, 2024, at the clubhouse of Wolfe Tones GAA in Shannon.
Already, two co-accused, including a brother of Mr Casey Curtin, Owen Casey, are facing trial for their roles in the alleged €1m crime spree and are currently remanded in custody pending trial to Ennis Circuit Court. The three accused face a combined 156 charges.
Last July, Eddie Carey (31), of De Vere Court, John Carew Park, Limerick, and Owen Casey (28), of Salvia Court, Keyes Park, Southill, Limerick, were returned to trial where the two face a combined 125 charges, with Mr Casey facing 59 charges and Mr Carey facing 66.
Their trial is listed to commence at Ennis Circuit Court next month.
Garda Emmet Roche gave evidence of serving the three-volume book of evidence on solicitor Tara Godfrey, who represents Mr Casey Curtin.
Judge Gabbett told Mr Casey Curtin – who has been on remand in custody since early September – that if an alibi formed any part of his defence, he was to provide details to the State Solicitor for Clare in the next 14 days.
The judge extended the legal aid certificate for a junior counsel to also represent Mr Casey Curtin at the circuit court.
Judge Gabbett remanded Mr Casey Curtin to appear before Ennis Circuit Court on February 3 next.
At a contested bail hearing for Mr Casey Curtin last September, Detective Garda Aoife O’Malley of Ennis Garda Station said that it is believed that the monetary value of vehicles and property stolen or damaged by Mr Casey Curtin and his co-accused is “well in excess of €1m”.
Detective Garda O’Malley alleged that the three accused before the courts, including Mr Casey Curtin, are suspected to be involved in the unauthorised taking of high value vehicles, including Audi and BMW models, for a criminal network for financial gain.
Acting Detective Inspector Noel Barry said that the three suspects are co-accused of targeting 31 commercial premises, 24 residential properties, and 37 unauthorised takings of cars, which is “dozens of alleged injured parties”.