Court detangles extradited man's case
Naas Courthouse
A MAN with an outstanding warrant from eight years ago after he allegedly stole $4,000 from a man in Monasterevin, was produced in error in Naas District Court this week (13 August) on foot of an EU Extradition Order.
However, such was the complex web of multi-jurisdictional allegations facing Wesley Mohan (26) of Hazel Hill, Killinarden, Dublin 24, it took both Judge Catherine Hayden, Inspector Dave Hanrahan and the court registrar two sessions to de-tangle his multitude of offences across four other counties.
It began with his solicitor Morgan Coleman handing over a substantial pile of €50 euro notes totalling €3,500 as a pre-arranged surety to secure his client bail which had been granted last week, but taken the seven days to raise.
“The DPP says trial by indictment (ie. Circuit Court),” said the Inspector.
“Any objections to bail?” asked the judge.
“No objections to bail, his passport has already been seized,” confirmed the investigating officer Detective Garda James Young.
“This (charge) is actually a Portlaoise District Court matter,” said Insp Hanrahan.
“Why is it brought here? This should be in Tullamore,” noted the judge.
Mr Coleman said he was formally applying for legal aid as his client: “has just been extradited on an EU Warrant (from the UK)”.
“Two of the bench warrants mentioned above were for Carlow and Trim, and he has a date to appear in Carlow District Court on 9 September, ” said Det Young.
“There is also an outstanding charge in Limerick,” added Mr Coleman.
“However, Section 22 of the EU Arrest Warrant Act says he can’t be charged on anything else … and it may prejudice my client,” argued Mr Coleman.
“He’s not being charged here,” Judge Hayden replied.
“I have a duty to my client and can go to the High Court,” said Mr Coleman.
“You should’ve made your application before I made my orders,” she countered.
“I’m quite happy to go elsewhere in relation to what’s happening in Carlow and Trim,” said Mr Coleman.
“I don’t see how it could be prejudiced if he’s being remanded on continuing bail,” noted Insp Hanrahan, before the judge halted proceedings to see if the multitude of offences can be allocated to their appropriate judicial districts with the help of the court Registrar.
When she came back, she asked: “What are we doing with Carlow and Trim?” “They’re (the charge) are going back,” said the registrar.
“And Portlaoise?” asked the judge.
“7 September for Portlaoise, 9 September for Carlow and 13 September for Trim, own bond of €100 for Carlow and Trim,” she said.
