Longford man charged over alleged 12 hour crime spree accuses judge of 'torture' after being denied bail

Charlie Reilly (31), of 8 River Court, Great Water Street, Longford made the outburst after appearing at a District Court sitting charged with allegedly carrying out all three offences within a 12 hour period on Tuesday.

They included the alleged theft of €203 from the Longford Arms Hotel on September 26 followed by two alleged shoplifting offences comprising €123 of aftershave from Lloyds Pharmacy, Ballinalee Road, Longford and a €78 Tommy Hilfiger hoodie from Sports Direct, Ballymahon Street, Longford just hours later.

Garda Rachel Carlin said she arrested and later charged Mr Reilly shortly before 1am yesterday (Friday) morning.

She said when the alleged Longford Arms charge was put to him after caution, Mr Reilly replied: “Is that burglary?”

Garda Carlin said Mr Reilly made no reply following caution when the Lloyds Pharmacy charge was read out to him, but replied: “Did I leave that premises with that jacket?” to the Sports Direct charge after caution.

In a lengthy contested bail hearing the court heard the State were objecting to bail based on the seriousness of the charges, most notably the alleged burglary charge which on trial on indictment carries a maximum term of 14 years in prison. 

It was also revealed Mr Reilly had only been given an 18 month suspended sentence in February for theft.

Judge Owens was also told of garda fears the accused would not show up in court and potentially commit further offences of granted bail.

The court was also informed Mr Reilly refused to leave his cell to conduct an interview, something defence solicitor Diarmaid Quinn put down to an adverse reaction his client had taken after consuming three tablets from a third party prior to his arrest.

Mr Quinn said Mr Reilly was willing to sign on twice a day at Longford garda station, abide by a stringent curfew and live under the care of his mother if granted bail.

Mr Reilly, who was sporting a white puffer jacket, white t-shirt and grey shorts, said the reason he declined to leave the custody sell in Longford garda station for the purposes of interview was because he didn’t know if he was “coming or going”  after consuming the aforementioned tablets for headaches he had been experiencing.

A self-confessed recovering heroin addict, Mr Reilly insisted while he had remained clean for two and a half years, pleaded with Judge Owens to give him a chance to prove his commitment in answering the charges before the court.

“I have enemies in prison,” the father of two stressed.

“I will sign on three times a day. Give me house arrest with my mother because if I mess up I know I am going straight to Castlerea (Prison).”

In refusing bail, Judge Owens said both thresholds under Section 2 of the Bail Act and O’Callaghan Rules had been reached, saying she was not satisfied any conditions imposed would not meet the requirements of either the State or the court.

In remanding Mr Reilly to custody to appear via video link next Tuesday, Judge Owens issued an order for the accused to receive all necessary medical treatment while in custody.

Not satisfied and as he stood in the custody suite of the court, Mr Reilly shouted up to Judge Owens: “You will torture and let me suffer?

“You are under oath, how can you do that to me?”