Longford man accused of theft offences seeks release for Holy Communion

A man who was refused bail last month after being charged with the theft of three laptops among other items from a cemetery and crematorium, in addition to other offences, has been informed he will need to apply to the High Court for temporary bail to attend his daughter’s communion.   

Mr John Robertson, who is of no fixed abode but previously resided at an address in Springlawn, Longford, stands charged with assault causing harm as well as trespassing and multiple thefts.   

Mr Robertson appeared before a recent sitting of Longford District Court via video link to make his application for day release. 

Representing Mr Robertson on the day was solicitor Aoife Kelly who told the court that as bail had been refused in district court matters, she was “not sure if there was any reality in the application” for temporary bail. Noting that her client was currently in custody, Solr Kelly added that they may have to apply for a High Court bail.  

“At the moment, Mr Robertson is remanded in custody for directions,” Judge Owens said as she read his file. “That is on foot of a refusal of bail by Judge Gearty on February 25. Have you got directions,” she asked Sgt Enda Daly, referencing instructions from the DPP.

“They’re still outstanding” he replied, adding that the file was “nearing completion” and would be forwarded to DPP in next two weeks. Sgt Daly sought a remand date for April 14. 

“What’s going on here?” Mr Robertson interjected to which the Judge explained that if he wished to apply for temporary bail for the purpose of attending his daughter’s communion, he would have to bring his bail application to the High Court because bail was refused here.  

Addressing the state, Judge Owens said she expected progress on April 14 in relation to Mr Robertson’s matter, noting that he was in custody on foot of an objection to bail.

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Among the charges being brought against Mr Robertson, it is alleged that he trespassed by entering a locked garden shed at Teffia Park in Longford on February 10 and 11 and committed an arrestable offence, namely theft.

The items stolen from the shed total €1,580 in value. A separate charge alleges that on February 10 last, Mr Robertson committed an assault on a person known to him.

During a special sitting of the district court last February, Detective Garda Damien McGovern went on to outline for the court the facts of Mr Robertson’s third charge which alleged that at approximately 4.30am on February 17, 2026, a window at Dardistown Cemetery and Crematorium on the Swords Road in Dardistown, Dublin was broken and entry gained to the back storeroom of the building. 

The detective told the court at the time that the suspects stole a number of items from the storeroom, namely three Toshiba laptops which had a total value of €3,000, six Helly Hansen jackets totalling €1,800, a socket set valued at €200, an angle grinder worth €200, a ratchet set, also valued at €200, and two additional items worth €800.

While the three laptops were recovered hours later at 8.15am, the other items however remained unaccounted for at the time of the sitting.   

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The special sitting also heard that Mr Robertson’s most recent charge related to an allegation of theft of approximately €30 worth of groceries from Hanlon’s Gala on the Dublin Road in Longford at 3.15am on Tuesday, February 24.

Objections were made to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act and the O’Callaghan Rules. 

At the sitting, Judge Gearty said she would be “formally refusing bail” and remanded Mr Robertson in custody to the next sitting of the court.