Man charged with escaping custody at Louth garda station gets €20k bail – with strict conditions

Exclusive: Anthony ‘Tagz’ McEntaggart, 38, of Moneymore in Drogheda, is alleged to have fled from Drogheda Garda Station

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• 16:00, 29 JAN 2024
• Updated21:35, 29 JAN 2024

A man charged with escaping from garda custody at a Co Louth garda station has taken up his €20k bail – with strict conditions.

Anthony ‘Tagz’ McEntaggart, 38, of Moneymore in Drogheda, is alleged to have fled from Drogheda Garda Station on Thursday, December 14.

He is alleged to have remained at large for nearly four weeks but allegedly surrendered himself back into garda custody on Thursday, January 11.

Last week he appeared in custody at Drogheda District Court after he was arrested and charged by Garda James Durkan at 10.46am with escaping from custody on December 14, 2023.

On Monday he appeared again before the court where he took up bail after €10k cash was lodged to the court and a €10k independent surety was approved.

Gardai said they were satisfied with the independent surety’s bank statements which were handed into court.

Judge Monica Leech remanded the accused on bail on his own bond of €10k cash and noted the independent surety was approved.

The judge also noted the accused’s bail conditions which include to reside at an address in Drogheda, sign on daily at Drogheda Garda Station and obey a curfew from 10pm to 7am.

He is to also surrender his passport and not to apply for travel documents, to stay out of Boyne Hall on the Slane Road and not to have any contact directly or indirectly with any witnesses in the case.

Earlier the court heard the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed summary disposal of the charge of escape from custody – which means it will be heard in the district court.

McEntaggart is also charged with money laundering offences and the court heard on Monday directions have not yet been received from the DPP as to which court those charges will be heard in.

The judge then adjourned the cases until February 26 when directions are expected to have been received from the DPP in relation to the money laundering offences.