Three men appear in court following ramming of garda cars

 

Gardaí injured in cross-county car chase in the early hours of Wednesday morning

Anton McNulty
 

THREE men arrested in connection with the theft of a car in Castlebar and the ramming of garda patrol cars in the early hours of yesterday (Wednesday) morning appeared before today’s sitting of Westport District Court in Castlebar courthouse (pictured).
Ethan McHale (23) of 49 Lios na Circe, Castlebar, has been charged with the unauthorised taking of a MPV from a private residence at Horsepark, Castlebar, while Eamon Maughan of 68 Hawthorn Village, Castlebar (21) and a 16-year-old male have both been charged with allowing themselves to be carried in a stolen vehicle. The 16 year old cannot be named as he is a minor.

The chase
The three males were all arrested at approximately 4.30am on Wednesday, April 4, on the Kilmaine Road outside Ballinrobe close to the scene where a blue Skoda Octavia crashed.
The car had earlier been stolen at Horsepark in Castlebar at around 3.30am and was observed shortly afterwards by a Garda patrol car on Station Road, Castlebar. The stolen car rammed the Garda car and left in the direction of Ballyheane.
In the village of Ballyheane the Skoda again rammed the Garda car causing extensive damage to the patrol car. The stolen Skoda car was observed in the Ballintubber area by another Garda unit, and this garda car was also rammed by the Skoda in the townland of Kilkerrin, Partry.
A number of Garda units including an Armed Support Unit were in the area searching for the offending car. The car was located crashed on the Kilmaine Road and the three males were all arrested and brought to Castlebar Garda Station. Two Gardaí were treated for minor injuries sustained during the rammings.

Court
At today’s sitting of Westport District Court sitting in Castlebar, Garda John Melia informed Judge Mary Devins that on April 4 at 5.36pm, he formally arrested Mr McHale and charged him with the unauthorised taking of an MPV. Mr McHale made no comment to the charge.  Garda Melia said it will be alleged that Mr McHale stole the car and was the driver on the night.
He had initially requested for Mr McHale to be remanded in custody but later withdrew his application. Mr McHale was remanded on bail subject to conditions.
These conditions included a curfew, a requirement to sign-on three times a week in Castlebar Garda Station and for him to have no direct or indirect contact with the co-accused or the injured party. The court heard that Mr McHale’s mother no longer wants him to reside at his current address, but it was agreed that he could reside with a friend in Castlegrove, Castlebar.
Judge Devins remanded Mr McHale on bail until the sittings of Castlebar District Court on June 6 for DPP directions and the possibility of further charges.
Garda Roland McIntyre explained that there was no objections to Mr Maughan being remanded on bail subject to conditions, which also included a curfew and a requirement to sign on three times a week. He will also appear before Castlebar District Court on June 6 for DPP directions and the possibility of further charges.
The 16-year-old male who appeared in court with his parents. He replied ‘sound’ after he was charged by Garda Melia. Inspector Dermot Butler said there was no objections to bail subject to conditions similar to those imposed on the other two defendants.
He was remanded on bail to appear before the Children’s Court in Castlebar on June 14 for DPP directions and the possibility of further charges.