Four sent for trial on €1.1m jewellery heist

Four Lithuanian nationals have been sent forward for trial charged with the armed robbery of almost €1.1 million worth of jewellery from a city centre jewellery shop last February.

Saulius Repecka (36), Irmantas Paulauskas (37), Erikas Matusevicius (35), and Vaidas Pinelis (28), all of no fixed abode, appeared in custody before Galway District Court yesterday where Detective Gerry O’Carroll gave evidence of serving a copy of the same Book of Evidence on each of them that morning.

The four are charged with the robbery of €1.099 million worth of jewellery and watches from Hartmanns Jeweller’s, William Street, Galway, on February 11 last.

They are also charged with having two imitation pistols with silencers with intent to commit robbery, on the same date.

Det O’Carroll objected to bail applications made by three of the men, due, he said, to the seriousness of the charges, and amount involved and their flight risk.

Judge Mary Fahy refused all three bail applications.

She returned the four men for trial in custody to the next criminal sittings of Galway Circuit Criminal Court, commencing on July 7, when a date may be fixed for their trials later this year.