Nine month cat and mouse chase comes to an end in Longford
Sean Mukutiri - who is before the court on serious charges and who previously failed to turn up for multiple court appearances - is also alleged to have failed to inform Gardaí that he was no longer living at the Longford town address he had initially provided them with. Detective Gill Mangan of Trim Garda Station told the court she had been searching for him for 9 months until he was stopped by Gardaí in Longford during which he allegedly gave them a false name, address and date of birth.
A 23-year-old man before the courts on serious charges including aggravated burglary involving a hammer, has been refused bail and remanded to custody in Castlerea Prison.
Sean Mukutiri, who initially provided a bail address of an apartment in Longford town but who is no longer residing there, appeared before Longford District Court having been arrested the previous night, June 9, for allegedly providing a false name, address, and date of birth when stopped by Garda Patrick Fallon in Farneyhoogan.
Upon recalling the accused’s failure to turn up for previous court appearances, Detective Gill Mangan of Trim Garda Station told the court she had awoken to texts that morning saying Mukutiri had been arrested in Longford the night before and added that she “couldn’t risk not being in court” to bring the charges against him as she had been looking for him for 9 months.
Currently, Mukutiri stands accused of being a trespasser on a premises, namely 15 Cedarwood House, Royal Oaks, Enfield, in County Meath on June 14 2024, and having had with him a weapon of offence, specifically a hammer.
He was further charged with committing a burglary, a charge which also took into account that he had with him a weapon of offence, namely the hammer, at the time.
Mukutiri faces a separate charge of having allegedly assaulted a man on October 22, 2024 at Hotel Kilkenny on Callan Road, Kilkenny.
Additionally, he faces allegations of multiple counts of dishonestly by deception inducing staff members in Big Bites, Enfield, and PizzaMax, Johnstownbridge, to entering bank card details without permission from the original owners and “with the intention of making a gain for himself and loss to another.” These incidents are reported to have occurred between May 12-23 2024.
Mukutiri is further accused of having unlawfully in his possession a controlled drug on the date, October 1 2024 at Brookview Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Addressing the court, Detective Jill Mangan said she was objecting to bail based on the seriousness of the offences, his failure to turn up for court, and his failure to comply with bail conditions already in place. She also expressed concern for witnesses involved in the aggravated burglary “seeing as the charge is more serious.”
Presenting the facts of the aggravated burglary charge, Det Mangan said, “On June 14 2024 at approximately 11pm, Gardaí responded to an alleged aggravated burglary call at 15 Cedarwood Royal Oaks House, Enfield, Meath where it was alleged that two males smashed a large pane of glass in the patio door where the residents, which included two young children, were in bed.”
“They entered the property. Both males were wearing balaclavas. One of the males who was armed with a hammer entered the property looking for (name redacted.) Upon observing (name redacted) they followed him from the hallway to the kitchen area where it’s alleged the male armed with the hammer made a number of attempts to strike (name redacted) which were unsuccessful.”
“The victim was then struck a number of times by a male using his fist resulting in him receiving a bloody nose. (Name redacted) has identified the male with the hammer as being Sean Mukutiri who is personally known to him.”
Det Mangan went on to explain how on the morning of June 16 2024, Mukutiri’s home was searched under warrant. She told the court that Gardaí located in a bedroom items including clothing and a hammer, allegedly relating to the aggravated burglary. The items were then seized by Gardaí. Mukutiri was arrested and detained at Trim Garda Station where, Det Mangan said, “he acknowledged his involvement in the incident but gave an account aiming to downplay the reason behind his actions.”
Det Mangan pointed out that Mukutiri had breached bail requirements, specifically the condition that stipulated he sign on at Longford Garda Station three days a week.
Said Det Mangan, “he undertook bail on June 18 2025 in Mullingar Court. He was to sign on at Longford Garda Station every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday but the last time he signed on was October 7 2025. He only signed on 14 occasions.”
Det Mangan told the court that Mukutiri was also not residing at the bail address provided, namely 12 Grafton Court, Longford and that on May 12 this year she had spoken with the landlord who informed Gardaí that Mukutiri had never been entitled to reside there but had been staying there occasionally.
The court heard that Mukutiri had previously signed a bail bond in Mullingar District Court that he would not drive a motorised vehicle however this condition was also breached as he was stopped while driving a vehicle in Farneyhoogan on June 8.
Det Mangan said she had been actively looking for Mukutiri for approx 9 months.
Representing the accused was solicitor Aoife Kelly who asked Det Mangan if she was aware that his reason for not residing at 12 Grafton Court was because he had been living there with his partner and that relationship had since broken down.”
“I wasn’t aware because he never told me,” Det Mangan pointed out.
Solr Kelly said her client “was unfortunately no longer welcome at that address and was relying on friends to assist him in that regard” but added, “he does tell me he has an address of 12 Camlin Meadow and it’s with his girlfriend’s mother and she’s here to confirm she is going to welcome him to her home. He’s also willing to sign on, supply a phone number, and will also obey a curfew. Would that be acceptable?” she asked.
“No,” Det Mangan replied. “I have his mobile number. He will make contact but he still won’t turn up.”
Addressing Mukutiri’s failure to turn up for court, Solr Kelly said her client had told her he was limited in being able to get to court “by reason of the bail conditions which said he was not allowed to drive and also he wasn’t working so he had no money to travel by public transport.”
To this, Det Mangan replied, “He was driving last night. He’s not supposed to be driving a car. He does have ways of getting around but yet when it comes to court he always has difficulty.”
Sgt Mark Mahon said the accused had 7 previous convictions, 2 of them related to possession of drugs, 2 for no insurance and the remaining were for road traffic matters.
“Are there any conditions you would agree to in terms of bail?” he asked Det Mangan to which she responded, “No he has breached them all. I couldn’t risk it”
Prior to delivering his judgement, Judge Vincent Deane commended Detective Mangan’s definitive answers under questioning and recommended she “give a course in Templemore on how to deal with cross examination.”
Judge Deane added that while the applicant is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the specific evidence from Det Mangan was of such weight that he was satisfied there was a risk that the defendant would not attend his trial.
“I’m refusing on the grounds that he won’t turn up,” he said before remanding Mukutiri in custody to appear before Trim District Court on June 16 by video link.
Mukutiri was granted free legal aid.