Further remand for man charged over Letterkenny theft spree

A man has been remanded in custody to hear instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions after being charged with a spate of burglaries in Letterkenny.

Matthew Lafferty is accused of carrying out six burglaries in Letterkenny during which €4,880 of property was stolen.

Lafferty, who has 89 previous convictions, is “vehemently” denying involvement in the incidents.

Lafferty appeared by videolink at Letterkenny District Court after being charged in connection with a range of burglaries at various premises including a takeaway, two hair salons, a grocery shop, a tanning salon and a barbers.

The 36-year-old of Fairgreen, Long Lane, Letterkenny, has also been charged with three further theft offences and an incident of criminal damage.

Lafferty is charged with criminal damage to the value of €700 to a glass door at Bronze Age Tanning Limited, Port Road Letterkenny on September 20. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991

Lafferty is also charged that, having entered a building known as Zen Hair and Beauty, Port Road, Letterkenny, as a trespasser on September 20, he did commit an arrestable offence, to wit criminal damage and theft, therein.

He faces similar charges in respect of Ace Barbers, Oliver Plunkett Road; Uviolki, Pearse Road; Future Style, Unit 2, Pearse Road; Hue Hair Salon, Pearse Road; Mr Chippie, Ramelton Road; Dream Brows, Neil T Blaney Road.

These charges are contrary to Section 12 (1) (b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Lafferty is further charged with stealing groceries/household products to the value of €60 from Home Savers, Pearse Road, Letterkenny, on August 29, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

He is charged with stealing four cameras to the value of €208 from Home Savers, Pearse Road, Leterkenny, on August 23 and with stealing clothing collectively valued at €50 from Penneys, Letterkenny Shopping Centre on March 17.

A previous court was told that Lafferty is already on bail from both the District Court and the Circuit Court.

An application had been made for bail but Judge Éiteáin Cunningham refused the application.

At his new court appearance, Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said they are still awaiting directions from the DPP and asked for the case to be adjourned until October 21st.

Lafferty's solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client had applied for High Court bail in the case.