No bail for Lithuanian trio accused of attempted raid on Trim jewellers

Three Lithuanian man were remanded in custody at Trim Court last Thursday when they appeared on charges connected to an attempted robbery of local jeweller Francie Martin at Emmet Street on Tuesday of last week. Two of the defendants were also charged with a robbery of a Maynooth jewellery store on the previous Friday, 21st October. The three who appeared in court were Marius Sakyns (22), Evaldas Kuliesa (37) and Arturas Volkavicius (21), all of no fixed abode. Inspector Ollie Keegan said that the gardai would be objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the charges, and the fact that the men had no proper addresses in the State. He said the strength of the evidence and the fact that they had been caught red-handed were added factors. No application for bail was made. The three men were also charged with being in possession of imitation firearms. Marius Sakyns was charged with having an imitation firearm, a black pistol, with intent to commit a robbery of Francis Martin on 25th October, at TF Martin Jewellers, Emmet Street, Trim. Garda Ivan Purcell told the court that the defendant, through an interpreter, said: "I didn't have any firearm on me" and "I didn't have a thought to rob anything" in reply to the charges.Garda Desmond Brannock outlined two charges in relation to the robbery of jewellery at Maynooth Jewellery, Main Street, Maynooth, the property of Geraldine Cash, to the value of €30,000, and the possession of an imitation firearm there. To these charges, Sakyns replied: "I am sorry" and "I apologise", the garda told the court. Arturas Volkavicius was also charged in relation to both offences in Trim and Maynooth. Garda Peter Clarke told the court that he replied "I'm very sorry" in reply to the firearms charge and the robbery charges relating to Trim. He made similar replies to the Maynooth charges, Garda Brannock said. Evaldas Kuliesa made no reply to the charges relating to Trim, Sergeant Patrick Hannon told the court. All three were remanded to Clover Hill Prison, Dublin, to appear at Trim Court tomorrow (Thursday). Sgt Hannon told the court that when the defendants were arrested, they had no means, and gardai had not yet ascertained if they were of any means. They had just flown into the country a number of days previously, he said, and their material wealth had yet to be ascertained. Judge Patrick McMahon held over a decision on granting free legal aid.