Brian ‘Mouse’ Ward pictured in handcuffs outside Letterkenny Court today
GARDAI have detained two members of an alleged criminal gang during an operation in Co Donegal, it was alleged in court today.
Goods worth €36,000 were seized when a vehicle containing two suspects was stopped by Traffic Corps officer Gda Paul McGee, Letterkenny District Court was told.
The incident happened at the Dry Arch Roundabout on Monday.
Before the court were 19-year-old Brian ‘Mouse’ Ward 77 Ardkeen, Cavan and Tom ‘Ernie’ McDonagh, also 19, of 42 Hazelbrook Crescent, Letterkenny.
Both also had addresses at 11A Ard Glass, Letterkenny and are denying the charges.
In court today Gda McGee told the court that acting on a tip-off from drugs squad officer Derek Connaughton he pursued a blue Ford van – registration number 04 CN 6132 – as it entered the Letterkenny to Lifford dual carriageway at lunchtime on Monday.
Gda Magee said both men were known to him and he began to investigate the state of the vehicle which was towing a trailer.
Inside he found washing machines, Sky TV dishes and €36,000 worth of aluminium, the property of the ESB in Letterkenny.
In court today Ward pleaded guilty to a range of driving offences connected to the incident and a previous incident in July.
He was fined a total of €950 for a range of driving offences and failing to give Gardai a correct name.
McDonagh was also fined €1,000, banned from driving for five years and jailed for three months for a serious of offences including driving whilst disqualified.
Whilst McDonagh was taken into custody to serve the sentence, Ward was freed on €800 bail with an independent surety of €800.
He was ordered to stay out of Donegal, stay at an address in Cavan, observe a curfew and not to associate with convicted criminals.
The theft case will be mentioned again at the same court next week.
McDonagh denies charges of theft of €36,000 worth of aluminium the property of the ESB and handling stolen goods.
Ward denies charges of handling stolen goods.