Two men captured after a high speed motorway chase were yesterday charged in connection with the robbery of three houses around the country.
Martin McAteer, 19 , and James O' Reilly, in his twenties, were caught by Gardai running across fields after a 47km chase from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, through Ardee, Co Louth, last Saturday evening, June 25, which was packed with pedestrians, up onto the M1 motorway near Drogheda, a court has heard.
They had cuts and bruises all over their arms and faces from running through hedges as they attempted to escape, the arresting officer Garda Conor Tuite said.
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He told Drogheda District Court they came to stop at Junction 10 of the MI in the high-powered Audi estate.
A total of four men had allegedly been seen fleeing a house in Carrickmacross where a burglary had taken place by two witnesses who gave Gardai the registration of the car.
It was immediately picked up by traffic patrols as it sped through the north-east and stopped after a blow out. And both McAteer and O'Reilly were caught in the fields, the court was told.
Both men from Tallaght, Co Dublin were charged in relation to the burglary at the Coach House, Drummond, Dundalk Road, Carrickmacross.
But McAteer was allegedly spotted on CCTV footage seized by Gardai from burglaries at two other houses in Castlebellingham, Co Louth, on April 27 last and at the Emerald House, Killucan, Co Westmeath on April 24, 2022.
He was officially recognised in footage by a Tallaght Garda from Crumlin Garda station who knew him, the court heard.
He was further accused of stealing €1,000 cash and jewellery worth €3,350 from the houses.
The Gardai objected to McAleer's bail because they believed he is a flight risk as he faces a 14 year jail sentence if convicted.
But Defence counsel Ronan O Carroll said his client has no intention of leaving the country, and would hand over his passport.
He was also prepared to sign in at Tallaght Garda station every day and to keep a nighttime curfew.
Judge Michelle Finan granted him bail on an independent surety of €3,000 of which €1,500 was to be lodged with the court. She remanded O Reilly in custody for a week.
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