Three Laois brothers, in custody since their arrest last July, appeared before Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court earlier this month. The three men were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into rural thefts in the counties Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Carlow and Kilkenny.
In the course of this operation two Garda patrol cars were rammed by a 4×4 Jeep and four Gardaí ended up in hospital.
Mr Thomas McInerney, aged 40, of Twomey Park, Mountmellick; Mr William McInerney, aged 35, of Newline Close, Mountrath and Mr Gerard McInerney aged 38 of Woodbrook, Mountrath, all faced nine separate counts each, (27 counts in all) of possession of stolen property including a Jeep, a trailer, a bolt cutter, a hacksaw, a nail bar, wire cutters, snips and a claw hammer.
The three accused pleaded guilty to all charges and were further remanded in custody, to be sentenced at a hearing on June 13th 2017 next, when victim impact statements will be heard.
State prosecutor, Mr Will Fennelly requested that the case be adjourned, as in this matter there remained a number of other injured parties who were all anxious to attend court. The presiding Judge Mr Keenan Johnson further ordered Probation reports and Governor’s reports on each of the accused.
The arrests, which concerned five Garda units all being involved, has been hailed by Portlaoise Garda Chief Superintendent Mr John Scanlon, as being a significant breakthrough in the fight against rural crime in north Tipperary.
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