Four men, including three from the same family, are due back before the court today charged in connection with the burglary of a rural farmhouse in Clare.
At the bail hearing for the men at the weekend, the court heard it’ll be the state’s case that the alleged burglary at the home of a man in his nineties in Ballyveskil, Tiermaclane, near Ennis last week was planned.
At the bail hearing for the four men, the court heard that as part of their investigation, Gardaí seized a number of mobile phones and are confident that traffic on the phones will show the operation was planned.
It’s alleged that while 38-year old John Woodland of Clarina Avenue in Limerick lured Vincent O’Connor away from his home on the pretence of buying silage, three other men forcibly entered the farmhouse where his father lay asleep.
Father and son 43-year-old Patrick and 18-year-old Edward Woodland, both of Greenmount Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston and 30-year-old Paul Keily of Glencairn, Dooradoyle allegedly fled when they discovered the elderly man, who was not harmed or confronted.
The four men were apprehended by Gardaí carrying out surveilance in the area, who later charged them.
Judge Mary Larkin remanded brothers Patrick and John Woodland in custody to appear via video link at Ennis District Court today, while Mr Kiely and Edward Woodland were also remanded to appear before Ennis District Court.
