Case adjourned | 

Man accused of using cloned plates to steal van and motorbikes in three counties

Mr Fahy, of Gofton Hall, Finglas, is charged with unauthorised taking or use of three motorbikes, taking a van and stealing a tax disc in a burglary, as well as possession of another stolen van.

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​A Dublin man has been accused of driving into car parks in a van with cloned plates and stealing motorbikes by loading them into the back of the vehicle.

Matthew Fahy (46) is facing multiple vehicle theft allegations and the case against him was adjourned for the directions of the DPP.

Mr Fahy, of Gofton Hall, Finglas, is charged with unauthorised taking or use of three motorbikes, taking a van and stealing a tax disc in a burglary, as well as possession of another stolen van.

The incidents are alleged to have happened in Dublin, Kildare and Meath between August and September this year.

Objecting to bail, a garda said it was alleged the accused was seen on CCTV at Augustine Court car park, Dublin 8, on a date in September this year.

On the footage, a stolen Peugeot van is seen entering and the accused is allegedly seen walking from it seconds later, the garda said. He said there was one way in and out and nobody else was seen entering or leaving at that time.

A tax disc found in the van had been taken in a burglary at Lease Plan, Ballymount.

CCTV there allegedly shows the accused visiting the premises on September 8, entering a restricted area and removing a tax disc, the garda said. He is allegedly seen looking through a box of keys before a Ford Transit van is seen driving off.

The accused’s mother’s house in west Dublin was searched and gardaí found clothing that was allegedly a “direct match” to what they saw in the CCTV.

The accused was allegedly in an underground car park on September 21 and was “easily identified” on footage from more than one camera.

This time, he is allegedly seen unloading a stolen motorbike from a van he had been travelling in. He is seen moving the bike into the exact position gardaí later found it, it is alleged.

According to gardaí, clothing found in a search of his bedroom was an “exact match” for what was worn that day.

Mr Fahy was allegedly seen driving a Fiat into a multi-storey car park at the Intel campus in Leixlip, Co Kildare, on May 26. The van reversed beside a motorcycle and Mr Fahy and another man were allegedly seen loading it into the rear of the van, without the owner’s consent.

Mr Fahy and another man allegedly loaded another motorbike into the same Fiat van at Intel on September 12.

When later seized in Finglas, this van allegedly had cloned plates to disguise its identity.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said Mr Fahy had “handed himself in” to gardaí by appointment.

Judge Treasa Kelly granted bail subject to conditions. Mr Fahy has not yet entered pleas.