A Dublin man and an English woman allegedly caught red-handed bringing €50,000 worth of stolen jewellery into a cash for gold shop in Tallaght have been refused bail.
Michael Maughan, 23, of Hazel Hill, Tallaght, Dublin 24, was charged with handling stolen property at Main Street in Tallaght yesterday.
Kathleen Kiely, a 30-year-old mother of one, from Lymington Avenue, London, was charged with possession of stolen property at Main Street in Tallaght yesterday.
The pair were refused bail when they appeared before Judge Gerry Jones at Dublin District Court today.
Detective Garda Redmond O'Leary, of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, objected to bail citing the seriousness of the charge.
Det Garda O'Leary said it was alleged the accused was found in possession of in excess of €50,000 worth of gold jewellery.
It was alleged Mr Maughan was seen driving a Volkswagen Golf at Main Street, Tallaght. A woman passenger got out of the car and made her way into the Cash For Gold shop on Main Street.
It was alleged that Mr Maughan was in this woman's company and was found in possession of two kilos of gold jewellery.
Mr Maughan ran and was arrested after a foot chase, the court was told.
It was believed that the jewellery was taken in the course of a burglary, with in excess of €100,000 worth recovered by gardaí and more than €100,000 worth still outstanding, Det Garda O'Leary said.
He believed Mr Maughan was aware of the location of the outstanding jewellery and would dispose of it if he was given bail.
Judge Jones asked if the accused was allegedly "caught red handed" and Det Garda O'Leary agreed.
Defence solicitor Padraig O'Donovan said Mr Maughan was not charged with burglary, but with handling in excess of €50,000 worth of jewellery.
Judge Jones refused bail, saying the detective believed that Mr Maughan "knows where that jewellery is and is not telling anyone".
He remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Friday, 2 February.
Ms Kiely broke down and begged for bail. However, Judge Jones held that she was a flight risk.
Det Garda Aidan Carroll objected to bail and told the court she was from the UK and had intended to return.
He feared she would abscond if bail were granted.
She was remanded in custody to appear again next Friday.
