Consent to bail for man arrested following garda surveillance operation in Laois

A handyman who was arrested in a garda surveillance operation targeting thefts from parking meters in Portlaoise has been remanded in custody with consent to bail.

Narcis Tudose(32) of 41 Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 is accused of damaging a parking meter belonging to Laois County Council and stealing €3,452.35 in coins at Nanny Kelly’s, Main Street, Portlaoise on November 13, 2024. 

He is further accused of stealing coins valued at €743 and damaging a parking meter at Doyles Shoe Shop, Main Street, Portlaoise and possession of implements including a crow bar, battery operated angle grinder and tools at Bridge Street Carpark on November 18, 2024. The defendant applied for bail at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Garda Megan Fleming objected to the bail application at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court on Tuesday, November 19.

She said the defendant had made no reply when he was arrested at 5.20am at Bridge Street Carpark in Portlaoise.  She objected to bail due to the “seriousness of the charges” and the strength of the evidence. 

Garda Fleming said the parking meter was forced open outside Nanny Kelly’s and there was “clear CCTV footage” in which the accused can be identified. She said the defendant was arrested a short distance away and found in possession of the angle grinder, crow bar and tools. 

She revealed damage of €6,900 was caused to meters and a “surveillance operation” had been put in place to target these specific thefts. She revealed there was a second man who gardaí have been unable to yet identify and the coins had not been recovered.  

Garda Fleming said the defendant “can be seen forcing open a parking meter” on CCTV from November 13. The surveillance operation was then put in place and the incident on November 18 “occurred while gardaí were monitoring the live CCTV footage” on the morning in question.

She said the accused was loading equipment into a vehicle when he was arrested a short distance from the scene of the crime and there was €57 in coins in the central console of the vehicle.  She said the man had no family in the jurisdiction and gardai were concerned the defendant would flee if granted bail. 

Garda Fleming said the defendant informed them he was a handyman who worked sporadically and had no ties to the jurisdiction. 

She said during the garda interview the defendant told gardai that he had a girlfriend in Romania and his mother was unwell.  Garda Fleming said the man told gardaí he intended to return to Romania on November 26 never to return. 

“I do believe that if he is granted bail he is going to go to Romania,” she said. 

Nicholas Revilles BL said his client was entitled to the presumption of innocence. He said the nature of the evidence was primarily CCTV evidence. 

Garda Fleming said the man had been arrested near the scene and found in possession of items believed to have been used in the crime. She also said the defendant had been wearing the same clothes on November 13 and 18.  

Mr Revilles said a handyman could be expected to have tools. He noted the garda had mentioned a co-accused. 

Garda Fleming said she believed the defendant would contact the other suspect if released on bail. “If the other male has some of the evidence it will be disposed of,” she said. 

Mr Revilles said there was a possibility that the case could be heard in the district court where the penalties wouldn’t be as severe. 

Judge Susan Fay asked whether gardaí believed the man would be able to return to Romania without a passport. 

Garda Inspector Ruth Wall said the defendant could travel out of the jurisdiction to the UK without a passport. 

Garda Fleming said she believed the defendant would try to return to Romania even if his passport was surrendered. 

Mr Revilles said his client was willing to obey strict bail conditions, surrender travel documents, sign on and he has a Romanian friend who was willing to act as independent surety. 

Judge Fay said that having carefully considered the bail application and the garda objection she would give consent to bail on strict conditions. She said the accused enjoyed the presumption of innocence.  

She remanded the man in custody with consent to bail on his  own bond of €100 with independent surety of  €2,000 to be approved by a judge of the district court. If granted bail the accused must surrender his passport and travel documents, remain of sober habits, sign on on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Mountjoy Garda Station and provide a contact telephone number to gardai where he can be reached at all times and be ready to meet a member of gardaí within 15 minutes. The defendant must obey a curfew between 10pm and 6am, stay out of Portlaoise and must not leave the jurisdiction.  

Mr Revilles said he wanted to put the court on notice that there may be an application to vary bail at a later stage to enable his client  to travel to Romania. 

Judge Susan Fay granted legal aid and remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on November 25.