A man charged in connection with an alleged spree of thefts across Donegal and other counties in the north-west has been refused bail.
John O’Connor, 47, appeared before before Sligo District Court yesterday, Thursday.
He was arrested the previous day at St Andrew Street Post Office in Dublin by Donegal gardaí Sergeant Oliver Devaney and Garda Brian Gallagher, who were investigating a number of thefts in the north west.
The charges faced by O’Connor are that on April 18, 2025 at Central Auto Parts, Letterkenny, he is alleged to have stolen autoparts to the value €223, the property of Thomas McGee.
On the same date, it is alleged that at Robert Kee and Sons, Laghey, O’Connor stole autoparts to the value of €300, the property of Shaun Kee.
On April 12, 2025 at Top Part, Ballast Quay, County Sligo, O’Connor is alleged to have stolen autoparts to the value of €3,142, property of Nessan McLaughlin.
He allegedly stole autoparts to the value of €2,905, property of Rory O’Donnell, from Rory’s Auto Spares, Drimark, Donegal Town on February 2. And also at Rory’s Auto Spares, it is alleged that on March 30, 2024, O’Connor stole autoparts to the value of €512 and a set of Mercedes alloy wheels valued at €800.
It is further alleged that on January 19, 2025 at McCormack’s Mace Supermarket, Leitrim Village, O’Connor stole eight bags of coal valued at €152, the property of Hubert McCormack.
All offences are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
Sergeant Devaney told the court that the total value of goods captured in the charges is €8.034. None of the goods have been recovered.
In outlining his objections to bail, the sergeant alleged that O’Connor had used a number of different vehicles to carry out the thefts under cover of night, and had been clearly captured on CCTV at all the premises.
Sergeant Devaney said that he believed there was a high risk of reoffending. Furthermore, he believed that the address furnished by O’Connor, and which was being used for his Disability Allowance, was not in fact his residence, though it was the family home.
Solicitor Gerry McGovern said he hoped that if bail was refused, that his client would receive necessary medical and psychiatric care while in custody.
Judge Sandra Murphy said that noting that the defendant was charged with a number of serious offences, the strength of evidence against him – including CCTV footage where he had made no effort to conceal his face – and other factors which had to be taken into consideration, she was refusing bail.
O’Connor was remanded in custody to appear again before Sligo District Court on May 1 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the possibility of further charges.
Judge Murphy ordered that O’Cnnor, with an address listed as 75 Bride Street, Dublin 8, he would receive medical and psychiatric support in prison.
Tags: