A man accused of deception by trying to withdraw his dead uncle’s pension, has been further charged with shoplifting.
Declan Haughney, 40, of Pollerton Road, Carlow, appeared before a sitting of Carlow District Court yesterday, and was granted bail, after six days in custody.
Mr Haughney is charged with deception, whereby he is alleged to have attempted to withdraw the pension of his deceased uncle Peadar Doyle, 66, on two occasions on Friday January 21.
And yesterday, appearing before Judge Geraldine Carthy, the court heard that Mr Haughney has now been charged with another alleged offence.
He is charged with the alleged theft of groceries from the Raths Londis Plus store on Carlow’s Pollerton Road on January 16.
The court heard that Mr Haughney made no reply after caution — when he was charged with the alleged offence outside the courtroom at 11am yesterday.
The alleged theft occurred five days before Mr Haughney is accused of entering Hosey’s Post Office in Carlow, where he’s alleged to have attempted to withdraw his uncle Peadar’s pension.
Peadar was discovered dead at the premises — with his death ruled by a coroner to be from natural causes.
Mr Haughney is accused of entering the Post Office at 11.04am where he “dishonestly induced by deception” a member of staff.
It is alleged he did so by producing a social welfare card in the name of Peadar Doyle — in an attempt to collect a pension payment of €240.
He is further accused of the same offence — dishonestly inducing a member of staff at the same premises — at 11:14am. Both charges are contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
Mr Haughney, who was brought to Carlow District Court in the custody of the Irish Prison Service yesterday, was granted bail, on a number of conditions.
Judge Carthy ordered that the accused must obey a curfew of 9am to 9pm and that he must sign on three times a week at Carlow Garda station.
He must also supply gardai with a working mobile phone number, and be contactable at all times.
The court also heard that Mr Haughney was ordered not to enter the vicinity of or into Hosey’s Post Office or Raths Londis.
He must also “be of sober habits” and remain “intoxicant free,” the judge said.
Consent was given to bail on condition that the accused enter into a bond of €300, supplying a €200 cash lodgement of which to the court.
The court heard the accused was not in a position to pay the amount at that stage, and he was therefore remanded back into custody until his bail can be taken up.
Mr Haughney was remanded into custody to appear before the court again later this month.
