A 31-year-old Lithuanian man arrested at a Garda checkpoint where another man was shot in the face by an armed member of the force has appeared in court charged in connection with a series of robberies in three different counties.
Aurimas Petraska, of Church Street Rathkeale, Co Limerick, is charged with burglaries at O'Conor's chemist Pearse Street, Kinsale, Co Cork on January 13th last and at Isobel's, Main Street Adare, Co Limerick on June 21st last.
He is also charged with committing burglary at O’Brien’s Pharmacy, The Square, Cahir , County Tipperary on September 10th, 2015.
Originally from Kaunas in Lithuania, Mr Petraska was arrested in the early hours of June 28th last in Co Limerick at a checkpoint, between Ardagh and Shanagolden in Co Limerick.
Another Lithuanian man was seriously injured when he was shot in the face by a member of the armed Garda support unit.
It is believed the gun may have been discharged accidentally by the garda.
Two separate investigations are underway, one by gardaí in Limerick and the second by An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
Mr Petraska was arrested at the scene and appeared before a special district of Limerick District Court sitting in Kilmallock on Sunday.
Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given at the special court sitting by Detective Garda Michael Brosnan of Kinsale Garda station.
The court heard the accused made no reply when charged on Sunday morning at Henry Street Garda station in Limerick.
Solicitor John Herbert was assigned to represent the accused who was granted free legal aid. No application for bail was made.
Judge Marian O’Leary remanded the accused in custody to appear before Newcastle West District Court on July 8th.