LAST UPDATE | 15 Jul 2021

A MAN HAS appeared in Dundalk District Court charged in relation to a robbery at Lordship Credit Union eight years ago – during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered.

Brendan “Benny” Treanor (33) with an address at Emer Terrace, Castletown Road, Dundalk is also accused of conspiring with others to commit burglary within the State, over a four month period.

Sergeant Noel Mohan this afternoon gave evidence of arresting the accused at 9.43am this morning and said he made no reply when both charges were put to him after caution at Dundalk Garda Station at 10.30am.

Brendan Treanor is charged with robbing €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan on 25 January 2013.

He also was charged with conspiring with two named individuals and others between 11 September 2012 and 23 January 2013 – both dates inclusive, to enter residential premises as trespassers with the intention of stealing keys of the household’s motor vehicles.

Inspector Darren Kirwan said there would be an objection to bail, and added the DPP has directed the defendant be sent forward on indictment.  However, the defence solicitor informed the court they would not be applying for bail today as they were seeking to perfect a surety with a view to making the application on the next court appearance.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan remanded the 33-year-old in custody to Cloverhill prison, to appear in person at Dundalk district court next Wednesday.

The defence applied for legal aid, but Inspector Kirwan said they would be opposing the application as gardaí believe the accused may be a director of a company and he alleged that posts on social media show him in possession of €100,000 worth of property.

Judge McKiernan said a statement of means should be handed into the court on the next date.