A postmistress working at an isolated An Post post office in west Clare "was violently and viciously assaulted" by two men armed with metal bars on Wednesday afternoon, it is alleged.
At Ennis District Court this afternoon, Sergeant Shane Graham said that it is the garda belief that the four men before the court charged with robbery were part of a four-person joint-enterprise "who acted in concert and colluded in order to carry out a cold and calculated robbery".
Opposing bail for the four, Mr Graham said that it will be alleged that the four-member gang - all with Co Clare addresses - "involved two getaway drivers and two members of the gang that entered the premises where the postmistress was violently and viciously assaulted with iron bars by both males".
Mr Graham was one of the members of An Garda Síochana who was involved in a high speed car chase across west Clare that ended on the outskirts of Ennis, where the four suspects were apprehended by members of the Garda Armed Response Unit at 3.45pm on Wednesday afternoon.
In the case, 36-year-old Martin Downes of Seafield Park Quilty, 38-year-old Michael McMahon of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen, 38-year-old Darren Cassidy of Lifford Mews, Lifford, Ennis and 30-year-old Darragh Pender of Dún na hInse, Ennis are all charged with robbing Maura McKiernan, the postmistress at An Post Carrigaholt, The Square, Carrigaholt of cash, coins and a cheque to the value of €8,944.63.
Items thrown from alleged second getaway car
Mr Graham said that during the case, items were thrown from the alleged second getaway car, a BMW, and he said that gardaí later recovered €6,500 in notes and coins from the road.
He said that gardaí also recovered a Supervalu bag at the post office, which is believed to be used in the robbery along with two metal bars that were also recovered, and that gardaí also later recovered a quantity of cash from the post office scene.
Mr Graham said that it will be alleged that Pender and Downes were the getaway drivers involved in the alleged robbery and confirmed to the court that both men have no previous convictions.
He said that during the pursuit he witnessed the first getaway car, a black saloon on fire near a wind farm at Letteragh.
Mr Graham said that it will be alleged that Downes picked up his three co-accused at a location near the Letteragh wind farm in the second getaway car.
He said that two of the suspects dressed in white overalls, black gloves with their faces covered by black hoodies, entered Carrigaholt Post Office at 3.10pm armed with metal bars where they allegedly carried out a violent assault on Ms McKiernan.
Mr Graham said that one of the four accused, Cassidy on arrest, had a receipt dated 19 January from Carrigaholt post office stuck to his tracksuit by chewing gum.
He said that after the getaway car drove off from the post office, Ms McKiernan contacted gardaí to raise the alarm and all garda mobile units in Clare were put on alert.
Postmistress 'left black and blue'
Judge Alec Gabbett said that the postmistress was left with "very serious injuries" and after looking at photos handed into court the judge commented that Ms McKiernan "was left black and blue".
Judge Gabbett said that the postmistress "must have been absolutely terrified" at this alleged robbery in this isolated part of west Clare.
Mr Graham said that the gardaí will be seeking that the cases against the four be heard in the circuit court.
Bail applications were made by solicitors John Casey, Daragh Hassett and Tara Godfrey for the accused.
Judge Gabbett refused bail to all four and remanded the accused persons in custody to appear at Ennis District Court via video-link next Wednesday 28 January.
He granted legal aid for the solicitors to represent the accused.
