Alleged senior European gang boss arrested in north Longford to stand trial
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will not be allowing a man accused of being a high ranking member of an "extremely sophisticated" eastern European crime gang behind the alleged theft of €300,000 of stolen property to go forward to the Circuit Criminal Court on a signed plea.
Andrius Parfionovas (39), 34 Oldbridge Park, Griffeen Valley, Lucan, Dublin, has been in custody since the beginning of November after being arrested in Granard, Co Longford.
The Lituanian national was charged with ten counts of handling and possession of stolen property at various commercial and residential properties in Granard, Co Longford and Dublin.
They included 14 outboard Yamaha engines. 14 Hummingbird fish finders, four marine radios, 4 propellers, 8 GPS systems, two wave boards, and £3,115 in cash, amounting to a total of £48,000.
Those items, the court heard, had been allegedly stolen from a house in Omagh, Co Tyrone barely 12 hours before the accused was arrested by gardaí at a property he had been renting in Granard, Co Longford.
Parfionovas was further charged with handling a stolen Renault Master Van valued at €20,000 which had been fitted with false plates after it had also been allegedly stolen from a property at Edenderry, Co Offaly on July 25.
The accused was further charged with handling a string of alleged stolen car components, among which included parts belonging to a BMW M5 181 registered car valued at €90,000 after it too was allegedly stolen in Navan, Co Meath on July 5.
A bank account containing €65,000 Parfionovas shared with his partner was also frozen.
Last December, Parfionovas applied for, but was denied High Court bail by Mr Justice Paul Burns.
Senior gardaí objected to bail given the nature and seriousness of the offence and likely sentence that would be imposed on conviction.
In defence, Keith Branagan BL, acting on behalf of Baxter Mimnagh Solicitors, Longford, said his client was in a position to put forward an independent surety and an address in Longford in order to satisfy any concerns the State may have.
Mr Justice Burns denied bail under both Section 2 of the Bail Act and O'Callaghan Rules.
At a district court sitting last Tuesday, Sgt Mark Mahon, for the State, said directions from the DPP had been returned with a request being made for Mr Parfionovas to be produced before the court in person.
“The DPP won't consent to (Parfionovas) going forward on a signed plea,” he said.
“The matter will be going forward on indictment.”
Mr Parfionovas was remanded in custody to a sitting of Longford District Court yesterday (February 21).
Lithuanian interpeter was also certified for ahead of that sitting.