Men allegedly caught breaking into Laois storage units
One of the defendants was allegedly wearing gardening gloves when discovered near a number of open storage units at 4am
Two men who were allegedly caught ’red handed’ burgling a storage facility in Laois applied for bail without the assistance of solicitors.
Andrew Byrne (40) of No Fixed Abode, Dublin 1, is accused of handling stolen property, burglary and unauthorised carriage in a stolen vehicle at Goldfinch Storage, Green Road, Rathmoyle, Abbeyleix on July 12, 2026.
Leon Thompson (24) of 26 Glenfield Drive, Ronanstown, Dublin 22, is accused of unauthorised carriage and burglary at Goldfinch Storage, Green Road, Rathmoyle, Abbeyleix on July 12, 2026.
Due to the ongoing dispute over legal aid, there were no solicitors prepared to represent either defendant.
Garda Evanna Harty objected to bail for Byrne. She said Gardaí had been alerted to intruders breaking into multiple storage units at Goldfinch Storage at 4am on July 12. They arrived and discovered a black VW Golf which had number plates which were later found to have been cloned. She said Gardai discovered the car had been stolen along with its keys after a burglary in Lucan on June 26.
Garda Harty said the defendant was discovered in the car along with a quantity of designer handbags, an apple air tag and a bottle full of coins. She said Mr Byrne, who was “wearing gardening gloves at the time of his arrest”, had been caught red handed.
She expressed her concern that if the defendant was released on bail he would commit offences.
Judge Andrew Cody told the man that Gardaí were objecting to bail due to the strong evidence.
“You were wearing gardening gloves at 4 o’clock in the morning. Why do you think I should give you bail?” he asked.
Judge Cody also inquired as to whether anyone was available to offer surety. “Not at the minute,” the man replied.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the accused man was allegedly caught red handed with stolen property.
“I don’t think anybody was gardening at 4 o’clock in the morning,” he said.
Judge Cody said he had to take into account the fact that they have no legal representation. He said there was an objection to bail and the accused has a presumption of innocence and he also had a duty to protect the public from crimes.
He remanded Byrne in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €100 with €2,500 independent surety or cash. He explained that in order for the accused to get bail he would need someone to appear with an account containing €2,500 or with €2,500 in cash. He also imposed a number of conditions if the bail is taken up.
“Could you add that he stay out of Laois?” asked Garda Harty.
The defendant said, “yeh, no hassle yeh”.
Judge Cody remanded the man in custody with consent to bail to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on July 20.
Thompson then indicated that he too wished to apply for bail. His father was present in the court for the application.
Garda Harty said she was objecting to bail. She said when Gardai arrived at 4am there were multiple storage units open with padlocks broken. She said the defendant was found in possession of a handbag and a jacket. She said she believed the defendant was the driver of the stolen VW Golf found at the location.
Garda Harty said the defendant had made admissions and had been caught “red handed” and was observed running from the scene. She said he was arrested while hiding in a field nearby. She said the accused had informed Gardai that he was addicted to tablets.
Judge Cody told the man that he enjoyed the presumption of innocence. He asked if he would be able to get any money for bail. The man said he could get €500.
Judge Cody then remanded him in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €100 with an independent surety of €500 to be approved or €500 in cash.
The man told Judge Cody that he had planned to start a new job on the day he appeared in court.
Judge Cody imposed a number of bail conditions which included signing on at a local garda station, a curfew and that he stay out of Laois. He remanded him in custody with consent to bail and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court by video link on July 20. The man’s father arrived in court with €500 for bail before the court concluded.