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Tallaght man appears in court over alleged burglary gang house raid and garda chase

Michael Wall (23) of Greenhills Grove, Tallaght, Dublin 24 came before a sitting of Mullingar District Court

Today at 08:40

A Dublin man has appeared in court suspected of being part of a burglary gang that allegedly carried out a raid on private house in Westmeath which later resulted in a high speed garda chase across the county.

Michael Wall (23) of Greenhills Grove, Tallaght, Dublin 24 came before a sitting of Mullingar District Court following an incident on February 26 that coincided in charges of trespassing at a property in Walshestown South, Mullingar, Co Westmeath and burglary at Ballintue, Ballyncargy, Co Westmeath being handed down.

Wall, together with two other co-accused who are also before the courts, were arrested after a number of Garda units, including the force’s helicopter and dog unit pursued a silver VW Golf for over half an hour following both alleged incidents.

The Dubliner initially appeared at a sitting of Athlone District Court on February 28 where he was granted bail subject to a number of conditions.

When the case returned before Judge Bernadette Owens on Thursday, the court was informed the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented for “summary disposal”, meaning the matter could be dealt with at District Court level.

In deciding jurisdiction on the burglary charge, Judge Owens was told by Detective Garda James Grogan how an eagle eyed member of the public had spotted four masked men acting suspiciously in a silver VW Golf in the Walshestown South area of Mullingar.

He said the same witness observed the same car around half an hour later stopping outside a house in the Balluntue area of Ballynacargy.

“The person that noted this suspicious activity then saw three males running from the injured party’s house in Ballintue, Ballynacargy and were carrying an item,” he said.

That item turned out to be a yellow pillowcase containing €800 worth of jewellery which had been allegedly stolen in the raid.

Det Garda Grogan said the gang gained entry to the house via a window which had been broken at the rear of the house.

In making their getaway towards Ballynacargy village, Det Garda Grogan said gardaí attempted to intercept the vehicle in the Westmeath village of Milltownpass, before a “high speed” chase ensued.

All of the jewellery which had been stolen in the break-in was later recovered, he said, outside of Kinnegad after it had been thrown out the window of the suspect car.

Upon hearing the State’s case, Judge Owens accepted jurisdiction before making a “disclosure order” of all prosecution evidence to Wall’s defence team.

Wall, remained silent throughout the hearing as Judge Owens remanded him on continuing bail to appear back before a sitting of Mullingar District Court on April 25.

It’s expected on that occasion Wall will either enter a plea or seek a date for hearing.