A son of tragic grandmother Miriam Burns has appeared in court charged with stealing a car in Killarney and stealing fuel at a Dublin filling station.
Billy Burns, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody with consent to bail on charges of unlawfully taking a car in Killarney and stealing €40 worth of fuel from a forecourt in Dublin.
The 51-year-old was charged with unlawfully taking a 141-reg white BMW in Killarney, belonging to John Crehan, on October 3 last.
Read More: Spar, Centra and more Irish shops selling huge bags of food for just €4
He’s further charged with stealing fuel from Circle K, Donnybrook, to the value of €41.05, the following day, October 4.
He is the son of 75-year-old Miriam Burns, whose body was discovered by neighbours at her home in the Ardshanavooley estate in Killarney, at lunchtime last Monday.
A post mortem examination carried out by State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster and it found that the grandmother’s injuries were not accidental.
Billy Burns was brought to a special sitting of Tralee District Court on Thursday charged with the offences of unlawful taking of a vehicle and stealing fuel.
He had been sleeping rough in Killarney National Park for the last number of nights, the court heard.
Gardaí objected to bail on the grounds that Burns posed a flight risk because shortly after the alleged offences were committed, he allegedly fled the jurisdiction to Northern Ireland, abandoned the stolen car, and then travelled to Scotland where he remained for 10 months.
Detective Garda Sergeant Michael Quirke said that Burns had been ‘caught red-handed’ committing the offences by the car owner’s father.
He said he was also seen on CCTV footage from the Circle K premises in Donnybrook.
Burns was described in court as ‘a highly-volatile individual’, and Gardai said they feared he will interfere with witnesses.
Burns’ solicitor, Pádraig O’Connell, denied that Burns posed any flight risk on the basis that a warrant had never been issued for his client’s arrest.
Mr O’Connell also questioned Detective Quirke about why gardaí had never sought a warrant for Burns’ arrest, despite having 10 months to do so.
“A flight risk, you cannot be serious? There is no question of a warrant. My client came back voluntarily, the State didn't bring him back,” Mr O’Connell said.
He said that Burns had a constitutional right to liberty given that the charges were ‘minor matters’ which will be heard before the District Court.
He told Judge Joanne Carroll that Burns was willing to comply with a number of bail conditions, including a curfew, signing daily at a garda station, and residing with his paternal aunt at North Street, Skibbereen, County Cork.
Mr O’Connell said that Burns could not provide an exact address in Skibbereen and had no way of contacting his aunt.
“Under the law, this man is entitled to bail, but on conditions,” Judge Carroll said.
“One of those conditions must be an address that stands up so the State can find him,” she said.
Burns was remanded overnight on Thursday to Tralee Garda Station, and appeared in court again before Judge Carroll yesterday to provide a satisfactory address.
An address could still not be provided and Mr O'Connell said Burns consented to a remand in custody to Cork Prison until next Thursday when an address will be provided.
Judge Carroll remanded Burns in custody with consent to bail, provided he produces a proper address next Thursday and complies with all bail conditions.
READ NEXT:
- Angry Vogue Williams slams passenger who refused to swap seats on a plane
- Couple in tears over hotel stay 'not fit for humans' as they're refused a refund
- Met Eireann issue wicked weekend forecast as heavy rain to batter country with two areas pinpointed
- Homeowner takes revenge after neighbour builds fence through part of their garden
- Irish man claims he was slapped with €91,000 bill for roaming charges after week abroad
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
READ MORE: Ireland weather: 25C hot plume to follow washout weekend as Met Eireann forecast big weather U-turn
