There were emotional scenes at the Special Criminal Court today as three brothers who were part of a cross-Border ATM theft gang that stole almost €800k were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.
Stephen, Gerard and Ciaran Duffy were present in the three-judge court for their sentence hearing.
The three have all pleaded guilty to being part of a gang that used stolen diggers, trailers and jeeps to rip ATMs out of the walls of premises in Cavan, Meath and Monaghan between 2018 and 2019.
The gang was eventually foiled in August 2019 when specialist gardaí pounced on the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia, Co Cavan, by ramming a stolen jeep the gang were using.
The three men are among five charged before the non-jury court in relation to a Garda investigation into the theft of an ATM in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in April 2019 and the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia, Co Cavan, in August 2019.
Detective Garda Vincent O'Boyle said the gang stole ATMs from Ballybay and Castleblayney in Co Monaghan, Kingscourt in Co Cavan, and two ATMs on the same night in Kells, Co Meath, between December 16, 2018, and March 19, 2019, before the attempt at Virginia on August 14, 2019.
Gardaí watching the yard in August topped a Toyota Avensis at the scene.
The Avensis was carrying Stephen and Ciaran Duffy and officers seized a combined €103,930 from the footwell and boot of the car.
Gardaí also searched the home of Stephen Duffy and found €15k stashed in a ride-along lawnmower.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne adjourned all matters to March 4 to pass sentence and remanded the three brothers in custody.
