A 28-year-old Limerick man has appeared in court charged with causing €16,000 in criminal damage to the clubhouse bar counter at Wolfe Tones GAA club - the club of Clare All-Ireland winning senior hurling manager and double All-Ireland winner as a player, Brian Lohan.
At Ennis District Court today, Owen Casey also appeared in connection with the burglary of Wolfe Tones GAA Clubhouse in Shannon on the same date as the alleged criminal damage offence on July 9 last.
Thousands of Clare fans gathered at the grounds on Wolfe Tones on July 22 last to welcome back Brian Lohan and his players after they beat Cork in the 2024 All-Ireland senior hurling final.
In total, Mr Casey of Salvia Court, Keyes Park, Southill, Limerick is accused of 63 offences and was making his second appearance in court and on video-link from prison.
Mr Casey made his first appearance before court late on Sunday night at a special sitting where he was refused bail.
In evidence, Det Garda Aoife O’Malley told the bail hearing that Mr Casey along with two of his associates are suspected to be involved in burglaries and stealing high value vehicles across the Midwest with a combined estimated monetary value in excess of €1m.
Det Garda O'Malley said that the Garda investigation commenced out of Ennis Garda Station last July and is investigating 92 separate alleged offences with a monetary value of in excess of €1m in stolen and damaged property and stolen vehicles.
Det O’Malley said that the 92 separate alleged offences include 31 commercial burglaries, 24 residential burglaries and 27 unauthorised taking of vehicles between January 2024 and March 2025.
Det O’Malley said that it will be alleged that the high-value vehicles were stolen to sell to another financial network for gain.
Det O’Malley said that the burglaries were "highly organised".
Det O’Malley said that in relation to some of the unauthorised taking of vehicles, there are videos of the alleged crimes occurring at the time that they are occurring.
Det O'Malley did not put a monetary value on the 63 offences that Mr Casey is charged with.
Det O'Malley said that Mr Casey - formerly of Castletroy, Limerick - could be facing "further more serious charges" as part of a Garda file prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Det O'Malley said that Mr Casey is accused of carrying out 27 burglaries across Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway.
17 of the burglaries are alleged to have occurred in Clare and Mr Casey is alleged to have committed seven burglaries on February 2, 2024 at Carry Out, Drumgeely, Shannon, Subway restaurant, Shannon; High Maintenance, Limerick Rd, Ennis, Remix, Limerick Rd, Ennis, Tech Station, Killaloe, The Washer Woman, Main Street, Ballina, and Corbally Centre, Corbally, Limerick.
Along with the alleged burglary of Wolfe Tones, Shannon on July 9, 2024, Mr Casey is alleged to have committed burglaries on the same day at Day Break, Crusheen; News and Views, Bridge Street, Gort; Hair Symphony, Clarinbridge; Poppy Seed, Clarinbridge; Gala Chinese, Castle Street, Oranmore and the Oran Tan Castle, Oranmore, Co Galway.
Mr Casey is also charged with four other burglaries on one day on July 5 last at Rogers Bar, Main Street, Scariff, the Electronic Store, Market Square, Scariff, Ponaire, Main Street, Adare, and Gadget Fix, Main Street, Adare.
Mr Casey is also charged with a burglary at a private house at tSean Dun, Tulla Rd, Ennis on September 4 2024 and two homes at Clann Alainn, Hurlers Cross, Newmarket on Fergus on July 24 and September 2 last.
Mr Casey is also charged with burglaries at Star Court and The Salon, Ballycasey, Shannon last May and Maxol, Clarecastle on May 18 last and a home at Lansdowne Park, Ennis Rd, Limerick on August 23 last.
Mr Casey is charged with the four unauthorised taking of vehicles that includes two BMW X5, one Audi A6 and one Porsche Cayenne.
Sgt John Burke told the court today that DPP directions are not yet available in the case.
Judge Alec Gabbett today further remanded Mr Casey in custody to appear at Ennis District Court to next Wednesday, April 23 via video link from Limerick prison.
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