The Enniskillen Courthouse
TWO MEN from the Republic of Ireland who are charged with possession of criminal property have been refused bail at Fermanagh Magistrates Court.
The court heard the men were arrested on the Queen Elizabeth Road in Enniskillen on February 4 when police stopped a Renault Clio car in which the men were travelling.
Keys to an apartment at Portora Wharf in the town were found in the car and when police carried out a search of this property they found a large quantity of cash – €65,826.14 and £2169.16 – a fake passport, keys to two other vehicles and a total of 24 mobile phones.
Thirty-one year old Jonathan Gill from Malahide Road in Dublin and Pascal Kelly (47) from Ishlawn, Ballyjamesduff in Cavan were refused bail by District Judge Traynor who called the bail application before the court as ‘entirely hopeless’.
Referring to Mr Kelly the judge described this individual as a ‘seasoned criminal’ who has convictions for robbery and escaping from lawful custody on his record.
The judge said expecting this defendant to keep the faith of the court and turn up again was a ‘hopeless expedition’.
The judge noted this man was in possession of a fake passport carrying his photo and a large quantity of cash. The judge also noted that during interviews the accused remained silent not seeking to give any explanation to police questioning.
Turning to Mr Gill the judge noted this man had an ‘insignificant record’ but that he was in the same car with Kelly, that he also remained silent during questioning and the judge believed both men ‘were singing from the same hymn sheet’.
Judge Traynor said he felt there was no guarantee either man would turn up for trial and therefore refused bail for both men.
Detective Constable Stephen Rea from the Organised Crime Unit, told the court the passport found was in the name of Brendan Duffy but carried a photograph of Mr Kelly.
Under cross-examination from defence barrister Ian Turkington the police officer admitted the passport appeared to be damaged, saying it looked like it had been through the washing machine. The detective said he very much doubted if someone would be able to travel on it.
The officer also told the court 20 mobile phones were found in the apartment and four in two other cars, a Mazda and a Ford Focus, the keys of which were found in the apartment.
A receipt for a local hotel in the name of John Jones was also found and the court heard the apartment had been sub-let to Pascal Kelly.
The detective said following their arrest both men were charged with possession of criminal property and both gave ‘no comment’ interviews.
Objections to bail included the fact the men don’t live on a regular basis at the addresses given and that they could be a flight risk as the officer believed both could readily get false passports.
He also said three bench warrants were outstanding for Mr Kelly – two on motoring matters.
Eleven addresses were offered as bail addresses and although the PSNI deemed two suitable they still objected to bail.
The detective said it was his belief the men were members of an organised crime group from Dublin.
The men were remanded in custody to appear again before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on March 11.
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