Armed gang 'viciously assaulted' postmistress in Clare An Post raid, court hears

Gordon Deegan

A postmistress working at an isolated An Post post office in west Clare was violently and viciously assaulted by two men armed with metal bars on Wednesday afternoon, it is alleged.

At Ennis District Court on Friday afternoon, Sgt Shane Graham said that it is the gardaí's belief that the four men before the court charged with robbery were part of a four-person joint enterprise "who acted in concert and colluded in order to carry out a cold and calculated robbery”.

Opposing bail for the four, Sgt Graham said that it will be alleged that the four-member gang—all with Co Clare addresses—“involved two getaway drivers and two members of the gang that entered the premises where the postmistress was violently and viciously assaulted with iron bars by both males”.

Sgt Graham was one of the members of An Garda Síochána who was involved in a high-speed car chase across west Clare that ended on the outskirts of Ennis, where the four suspects were apprehended by members of the Garda Armed Response Unit (ARU) at 3:45pm on Wednesday afternoon.

In the case, Martin Downes (36) of Seafield Park, Quilty; Michael McMahon (38) of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen; Darren Cassidy (38) of Lifford Mews, Lifford, Ennis; and Darragh Pender (30) of Dun na hInse, Ennis, are all charged with robbing Maura McKiernan, the postmistress at An Post Carrigaholt, The Square, Carrigaholt, of cash, coins and a cheque to the value of €8,944.63, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Sgt Graham said that during the case, items were thrown from the alleged second getaway car, a BMW, and he said that gardaí later recovered €6,500 in notes and coins from the road.

Sgt Graham said that gardaí also recovered a Supervalu bag at the post office, which is believed to have been used in the robbery, along with two metal bars that were also recovered.

Sgt Graham said that gardaí also later recovered a quantity of cash from the post office scene.

Sgt Graham said that it will be alleged that Mr Pender and Mr Downes were the getaway drivers involved in the alleged robbery and confirmed to the court that both men have no previous convictions.

Sgt Graham said that during the pursuit, he witnessed the first getaway car, a black saloon, on fire near a wind farm at Letteragh.

Sgt Graham said that it will be alleged that Martin Downes picked up his three co-accused at a location near the Letteragh wind farm in the second getaway car.

He said that two of the suspects, dressed in white overalls and black gloves with their faces covered by black hoodies, entered Carrigaholt Post Office at 3.10pm armed with metal bars, where they allegedly carried out a violent assault on Ms McKiernan.

Sgt Graham said that one of the four accused, Darren Cassidy, on arrest, had a receipt dated January 19th from Carrigaholt Post Office stuck to his tracksuit by chewing gum.

Sgt Graham said that after the getaway car drove off from the post office, Ms McKiernan contacted gardaí to raise the alarm, and all Garda mobile units in Clare were put on alert.

Judge Alec Gabbett said that the postmistress was left with “very serious injuries” and after looking at photos handed into court, the judge commented that Maura McKiernan “was left black and blue”.

Judge Gabbett said that the postmistress “must have been absolutely terrified" at this alleged robbery in this isolated part of west Clare.

Sgt Graham said that the gardaí will be seeking that the cases against the four be heard in the circuit court.

Bail applications were made by solicitors John Casey, Daragh Hassett, and Tara Godfrey for the accused.

Judge Gabbett refused bail to all four and remanded them in custody to appear at Ennis District Court via video link next Wednesday, January 28th.

Judge Gabbett granted legal aid for the solicitors to represent the accused.

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