Longford based father of 5 – accused of crematorium burglary – refused bail

A man accused of stealing three laptops from a cemetery and crematorium, among other offences, has today been refused bail. 

Mr John Robertson, currently of no fixed abode but who previously resided at an address in Springlawn, Longford, was brought before a special sitting of Longford District Court.

Mr Robertson stands charged with assault causing harm as well as trespassing and multiple thefts. During the sitting, Judge Deirdre Gearty heard details of the offences from Detective Garda Damien McGovern.  

One charge alleges that Mr Robertson trespassed by entering a locked garden shed at 45 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. 

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A separate charge alleges that on February 10 last, Mr Robertson committed an assault on a person known to him 

Detective Garda McGovern went on to outline for the court the facts of Mr Robertson’s third charge which alleges 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 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 Hanson 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.

The three laptops were recovered hours later at 8.15am. The other items however still remain unaccounted for.  

Mr Robertson’s final, and most recent charge, relates 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. 

Solicitor for Mr Robertson, Mr John Anderson, asked Detective Garda McGovern if it was correct that the victim of the assault did not want to proceed with their complaint. He confirmed that this was correct. 

When his client took to the stand, Mr Anderson asked him if he would be willing to comply with all conditions imposed by the court in the event of bail being granted. Mr Robertson replied that he would.

During his brief time on the stand, he also told the court that he was a father of five with a sixth child on the way.  

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Mr Anderson applied for bail with strict conditions, submitting that this would “put the keys of the prison” into Mr Robertson's hands.

As Mr Anderson referenced the victim’s intention to withdraw their statement of complaint regarding the assault, Judge Gearty interjected, “We all know that’s not necessarily the answer to that either. They can be treated as a hostile witness.” 

Addressing Inspector Brian Boland, Judge Gearty said she would be formally refusing bail and remanded Mr Robertson in custody to next Tuesday, March 3, at Longford District Court.