Border ATM gang members remanded in custody for sentencing

Three brothers who were part of a cross-Border ATM theft gang that stole almost €800,000 have been remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court ahead of sentencing.

Stephen, Gerard and Ciaran Duffy pleaded guilty to being part of a gang that used stolen diggers, trailers and SUVs 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 SUV the gang were using.

The three brothers are among five men 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.

Fiona Murphy SC, prosecuting, told the court that gardaí­ estimated that the total amount stolen over the five successful ATM thefts was €790,000.

Det 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 16th, 2018, and April 19th, 2019, before the attempt at Virginia on August 14th, 2019.

In December, Gerard Duffy (31) of Greagh, Loughnamore, Co Monaghan, pleaded guilty to the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Bar & Restaurant, Main Street, Virginia, Co Cavan.

He had been charged with the offence of ‘the attempted theft of the ATM and its contents for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006’.

Ciaran Duffy (28) of the same address, pleaded guilty at the court to three offences connected to the same investigation.

He pleaded guilty to participating in criminal activities while in a Toyota Avensis at Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath on August 20th, 2019 by participating in the movement of cash on behalf of a criminal organisation.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to commit an offence under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Act by attempting to steal the ATM and its contents at the Riverfront Bar & Restaurant.

He also pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the possession of cash at Tullypole, Moynalty, on August 14th, 2019, intending to facilitate the commission of an offence by a criminal organisation.

Stephen Duffy (35) of Tullynahinera, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan admitted to possessing cash at The Yard, Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath, on August 20th, 2019, in association with a criminal organisation.

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.