Key member of "extremely sophisticated" eastern European crime gang arrested in Longford and behind alleged €300k theft charges denied High Court bail

Andrius Parfionovas (39), 34 Oldbridge Park, Griffeen Valley, Lucan, Dublin, came before a sitting of the High Court today after he was arrested and later charged by gardaí  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.

Mr 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.

Mr Parfionovas was arrested by gardaí at a property being rented by the accused at an address at Maryville, Ballinacross, Granard, Co Longford on November 8 last.

He initially came before a special sitting of Longford District Court five days later where it was alleged the Lithuanian national was part of a "highly sophisticated" international organised crime group .

Gardaí also seized €65,000 in a bank account Mr Parfionovas shared with his partner as part of the investigation.

It was further revealed that during a search of unit at Citwest, Dublin 24, garda uniforms, metro flashing blue lights used by gardaí in the course of their duties and GPS signal blockers were also found.

Car parts belonging to a stolen 172 registered VW Touraeg valued at €40,000 were found at Mr Parfionovas family home in Lucan.

That particular vehicle, it was revealed had been stolen from a business premises in Ballymount, Dublin on June 29.

When gardaí carried out a search of a commercial premises in Edgeworthstown, they found a number of work stations which were suspected of being used for the purposes of an organised "chopshop" operation. 

Mr Parfionovas was denied bail and has been in custody ever since.

At a sitting of the High Court in Dublin today before 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 with Mr Parfionovas being remanded in custody to appear back before Longford District Court via videolink next Tuesday.