Defendant charged with burglary at St Christopher's Services, Longford protests innocence

A defendant accused of breaking into St Christopher's Services in Longford town and charged with burglary and several other offences has protested his innocence in Longford District Court.

Derek Hickey (37) of Shangan Crescent, Ballymun, Dublin 9 appeared at a recent sitting of Longford District Court charged with five alleged offences on May 28 and May 29 last year.

The defendant is charged with burglary and entering St Christopher's Special School as a trespasser on May 29.

Mr Hickey is also charged with two additional charges of trespassing at Aughatoom House Battery Road, Longford and a separate property at Druid Glen, White Linen Woods, Longford.

Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State, said the prosecution case rests primarily on CCTV footage and it will be alleged that the defendant forced his way into the intellectual disabilities provider just after 3pm on the date in question.

The court heard Mr Hickey was arrested and found with a Dell laptop valued at €650 and an iPad worth €500 a short time later.

The defendant initially appeared at a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon District Court in late-May following his arrest by officers several hours after the break-in at St Christopher's Services was reported.

Mr Hickey was additionally charged with criminal damage to a vehicle when he allegedly attempted to start it by pulling the wires of the ignition along with a further alleged offence of theft from Aldi, Athlone Road, Longford on May 28.

Judge Bernadette Owens heard the details of the charges before accepting jurisdiction which means the case can proceed in the district court.

Mr Hickey was remanded on continuing bail by Judge Owens to appear again at Longford District Court on March 10 next.

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