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Teen appears in court over burglary spree and robbery of US tourists during Fleadh

Eighteen-year-old Corey Farrell has over 70 previous convictions

Yesterday at 15:00

A teenager has appeared in court charged with being part of a five-man gang that attacked and robbed three American tourists during Mullingar’s All-Ireland Fleadh celebrations, before going on a burglary spree which resulted in thousands of euros worth of damage being caused to a special needs school.

Eighteen-year-old Corey Farrell, of Dublin Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath was told he was being given “no promises” by Judge Bernadette Owens after appearing at Mullingar District Court charged with ten counts of burglary, robbery and theft.

Farrell, a chronic drug addict with over 70 previous convictions, was brought before the court where details relating to an incident where three US tourists were attacked and robbed during the 2022 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann were heard.

Detective Garda James Grogan gave evidence of how Farrell was part of a group of intoxicated men who approached the three tourists at a makeshift campsite at Mullingar Town FC, Dalton Park, on August 3, 2022.

Det Garda Grogan said after the three victims began to feel uneasy and asked the other men to leave, two of them were assaulted with beer bottles, resulting in both receiving injuries and cuts to their faces.

One of the young men assaulted sustained a laceration to his head which later required a staple being applied at Mullingar’s Midland Regional Hospital.

The court was told that while Farrell’s involvement in the incident was more as a “witness” than chief perpetrator, the teenager was arrested close to the scene and subsequently charged with two counts of robbery and theft.

It was revealed all of the property which had been taken by Farrell from tents belonging to the tourists were later recovered after the accused alerted detectives to their location in long grass not far from the crime scene.

The court was also informed of how Farrell, currently in custody, had since been charged with five separate burglaries, all of which occurred in Mullingar on January 8, 2024 and within hours of each other.

The first of those, Det Garda Grogan said, took place at St Brigid’s National School, a facility that educates young children with intellectual disabilities.

He said Farrell was spotted on CCTV shortly after 3am taking a marble plaque from a wall outside before using it to damage two double glazed door windows, causing €3,000 of damage in the process.

Mr Cooney said when Farrell is in employment, he ordinarily avoids coming to garda attention, a trend which was dealt a blow when he lost his construction job shortly before Christmas.

“In December into January, he had been let go and found himself back on a slippery slope. Again, there is no excuse or reason why he should do it and there is something driving this chronic addiction problem,” he said.

Judge Owens, in delivering her verdict, said in light of Farrell’s young age and the fact he was also before the Circuit Court at present.

“The court has to balance as to whether it is appropriate to give Mr Farrell a further opportunity to see if he can he procure a residential placement,” she said.

Judge Owens remanded Farrell into continuing custody to appear back on May 2 for the preparation of a probation report.