Kildare man accused of robberries said he won't skip bail due to sister's wedding

A Kildare man accused of committing three robberies and a burglary insisted he would turn up for court because has a family wedding.

Defendant Brian McDermott of the Curragh Plains estate in Kildare Town was refused bail in Naas District Court last week.

His solicitor Tim Kennelly told Judge Desmond Zaidan his client would be strenuously denying all charges against him.

Gardai gave evidence that on April 23, a man with a wheel brace threatened staff in Ladbrokes bookmakers in Newbridge and took €700 in cash from the tills.

It is alleged that he returned to the store when it was closing at 9pm, kicked in the door, jumped the counter and attempted to take money from the till.

Mr McDermott is also charged with two other robberies - in Newbridge and in Kildare town.

The court was told that on April 21, a man entered Centra store on Roseberry Hill in Newbridge and took €280 from two tills.

On an earlier date, December 31, the accused is alleged to have stolen €500 cash using a suspected imitation firearm at the Daybreak store in Kildare town.

Two gardai said under oath that they feared Mr McDermott may not stand trial if given bail.

They objected to bail due to the seriousness of the charges and the narrow period during which the offences were allegedly committed.

However Mr McDermott gave evidence under oath that he was giving away his sister Lorraine at her wedding in Athlone next week because their parents are deceased.

Under cross examination by the state, Mr McDermott denied that he abused alcohol or took drugs.

He was then refused bail by Judge Desmond Zaidan and remanded in custody until May 4.