Mayo drug addict facing multiple burglary charges linked to spree across several counties
BAIL has been refused at Monaghan District Court to a Mayo man facing multiple charges alleging burglaries across five counties between July 30 and early September 9, 2025.
Luke Wall (33), with an address at Cois na hAbhann, Bonniconlon, Ballina, had a book of evidence served on him and was sent forward for trial to the sittings of Monaghan Circuit Court in April.
Wall is charged with 19 counts of burglary and one of being in possession of a knife during the course of an assault, with 14 of the 20 offences alleged to have been committed in the Castleblayney and Carrickmacross areas of Co. Monaghan, three in Co. Louth and one each in counties Sligo, Meath and Cavan.
A further two charges alleging dangerous driving by the defendant, on the N52 near Mullingar on September 9 last, are to be heard at District Court level and were adjourned until November 9, 2026.
Detective Garda Ronan O’Meara told the court there were objections to bail due to the seriousness of the charges, where terms of imprisonment of up to 14 years could be imposed. Gardaí were also of the view that the defendant would commit further offences if released.
Detective Garda O’Meara said that, when arrested, the accused admitted being addicted to heroin and crack cocaine. During his detention he was administered methadone by a doctor.
The garda agreed with Ms. Sara Brennan, BL, defending, that her client made admissions at interview and was generally co-operative.
It was also true that there was a very clear drugs issue with Mr. Wall at the time of his arrest, and that the defendant told gardaí that his offending was linked to his addiction.
Ms. Brennan said the defendant had family in Mayo, and could offer an address in Foxford where his grandfather lived.
He was a young man who had effectively been on “a conveyor belt” of court and custody from a very young age, and who had struggled with serious drug addictions throughout the entirety of his adult life.
Wall would say he was never offered any alternative to prison, and never availed of addiction treatment, counsel added. He had been doing his best to avail of services within the prison but there is a very long waiting list in that regard.
But the defendant is showing a clear desire to go into treatment, and would be happy with this being made a condition of any bail. He also believed that all his issues were related to drugs.
Judge Raymond Finnegan said that, although he was impressed with Wall’s efforts while in custody, he would have huge concerns that if granted bail of any description he would return to offending.
It was open to the defendant to apply for bail to another court, but for now, he was being remanded in custody to appear at Monaghan Circuit Court commencing on April 14.
In returning the defendant for trial accordingly, Judge Finnegan granted legal aid to Connolly Finan Fleming Solicitors, and acceded to Ms. Brennan’s request that it cover a senior as well as junior counsel.
* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.