A 31-year-old man has appeared in court charged in connection with the robbery of Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth almost ten years ago, during which a detective garda was shot dead.
James Flynn, with an address at Ravens Glen in Newry, Co Down, was arrested at Dublin Airport yesterday evening after being extradited back to Ireland from the UK.
He appeared at a sitting of Dublin District Court this morning before the President of the District Court, Judge Paul Kelly.
Detective Garda Gareth Kenna from Dundalk Garda Station told the court that he arrested Mr Flynn on the south apron at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport.
He was taken to Dublin Airport Garda Station where he was charged with two offences and cautioned.
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Mr Flynn is charged with robbery of €7,000 in cash and cheques at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth on 25 January 2013 and conspiracy to commit burglaries between 11 September 2012 and 23 January 2013.
In reply to the first charge, Det Garda Kenna told the court Mr Flynn said: "I strongly deny the charge."
He also said: "I wasn't present in the car park on the 25th January. I am a businessman who was running a successful business in the USA from 2011."
In response to the second charge, Mr Flynn replied: "I strongly deny this charge."
A solicitor representing the State told the court that Detective Garda Kenna served the book of evidence on Mr Flynn this morning in the court.
Mr Flynn acknowledged he had received the book of evidence.
The solicitor said the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to the accused being sent forward for trial on the charges.
He also said "the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure effective administration of justice" and he applied for the accused to be "sent forward to a sitting of a Special Criminal Court".
No date has yet been set.
Barrister John Temple, who was representing the accused, told Judge Kelly that there was "no bail application at this time".
Mr Flynn's barrister, who presented the court with a statement of means, said his client has "no occupation and no income".
He said the Mr Flynn had been in custody in the UK since July 2021, after being arrested on foot of an extradition warrant.
The State solicitor requested time to look into and assess the statement of means.
He said at a bail hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in London last December, which was refused, the accused had offered £185,000 cash and independent sureties totalling £965,000.
Mr Temple said the money had been offered by a collection of Mr Flynn's family members living inside the UK jurisdiction.
Judge Kelly, who remarked that there were extraordinary sums available to the accused last December, deferred a decision on the application for legal aid.
In reply to the first charge, Detective Garda McKenna told the court that Mr Flynn said "I strongly deny the charge".
He also said: "I wasn't present in the car park on the 25 January.. I am a businessman who was running a successful business in the USA from 2011".
In response to the second charge, Mr Flynn replied "I strongly deny this charge".
In October 2020, Aaron Brady, of New Road, Crossmaglen in Co Armagh, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot dead during the raid.
