Owen McDonagh (27), who is originally from the South but has an address at Bercorn Road, Derry appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from Maghaberry Prison.

McDonagh is charged with burglary at Gallogley’s Mini Mart in the Fermanagh village in relation to an incident on February 7th this year. It is alleged he entered the shop as a trespasser and stole cash, a passport, a credit union book, and bank documents. A second suspect, McDonagh’s girlfriend Carly McMullan (23) of Bluebellhill Gardens, Derry, is also charged with burglary in relation to the same incident. 

McDonagh applied for bail on Monday, which police objected to, citing concerns he would reoffend if released. An officer outlined to the court the other offences McDonagh is also charged with, namely being involved in the theft of 276 bottles of Smirnoff Vodka, worth thousands of pounds, from two supermarkets in the Coleraine area. 

With regard the Ederney burglary, which the defendant denies, police claimed during the incident McDonagh and his partner McMullan had distracted the 78-year-old shopkeeper before stealing the cashbox. The pair were stopped two hours later in Donegal with £450 , which police believed was taken during the burglary. 

McDonagh’s solicitor said the different sets of charges against his client may be separated in future, and it could be some time before the cases are heard in court. Pointing out his partner had already been granted bail, the solicitor said McDonagh, who is in prison on remand on the charges, would be contesting the burglary charge. 

District Judge Mark McGarrity said he was “not minded” to grant bail, pointing to the risk of McDonagh reoffending and also to the possibility of him fleeing the jurisdiction, given his family mostly live in the South. He was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned until May 20th.