A man accused of two armed robberies in Armagh has been denied compassionate bail to visit his gravely ill mother.
Josh Lakin, of Elgin Street in Belfast, has been charged with two counts of robbery, criminal damage and possession of a Class C drug following a series of incidents in Armagh city on Monday, February 27.
The 26-year-old’s defence barrister, Patrick Higgins, indicated to Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday that he was lodging a compassionate bail application on behalf of his client.
However, Detective Constable David McKee told the court that police would be objecting to his temporary release from custody based on the fact he has had 29 breaches in the last nine years.
He also argued that Lakin “has no regular family contact and police believe the risk of absconding is too great”.
It was noted that, in 2018, the defendant was granted bail and “subsequently absconded over the border where he was involved in an incident in Limerick and wasn’t then back in the jurisdiction for quite some time”.
Mr Higgins accepted the officer’s comments in their entirety.
He added: “Unfortunately [Lakin’s] mother has had a stroke in England…and family have been called for. I accept that this is an extremely high risk situation and that it would be extremely compassionate of the court to grant bail, but it’s really an uphill struggle to make any application given his previous breaches of bail. I’d ask Your Worship to exercise some clemency at this time.”
District Judge Anne Marshall said: “When I read the application I was minded to consider it until I heard the police objections and saw his criminal record.
“I would want more information in the circumstances; confirmation from the hospital that she is indeed in a critical position and not expected to last and also details of the surety as well as details of his relationship with his mother.”
Mr Higgins confirmed that Lakin “has only ever had telephone contact with his mother; he was adopted at a very early age and spent time in the care system throughout his childhood in Northern Ireland. His mother has always resided in England.”
District Judge Marshall refused bail and suggested Mr Higgins apply to the High Court.
The court heard that a full file had now been received and was with a senior prosecutor, with the case to be mentioned again on August 1.
Previously, Armagh Magistrates’ Court heard that at approximately 11.36am on Monday, February 27 police received a report of an armed robbery at Mullan’s Spar on the Killylea Road.
It was reported that a man had entered the shop wearing a balaclava and subsequently demanded money from the till while brandishing a hammer.
It was disclosed that during the robbery the man had lifted up his face covering and exposed his face, which was captured on CCTV.
It’s then reported that the male had left in a blue coloured Seat Leon, which was driven in the direction of Irish Street in Armagh.
During the incident on the Killylea Road, the shop manager reported that only receipts were taken from the till.
Shortly after midday police then received a further report of an armed robbery that had taken place at Ring Road Stores on Lower Irish Street, Armagh.
It was reported that a male had entered the store with a hammer and smashed the screen of a PayPal kiosk, demanding staff open the till.
Staff stated that the male said he was a drug addict and that if anyone came near him he would kill them.
It was disclosed that a male suspect left the store and again got into a blue coloured Seat Leon before it drove away from the area.
During this incident, the shop owner reported that approximately £200 in £10 and mainly £5 denomination notes were stolen.
When the robber left the Ring Road Stores a member the public was able to capture a photograph of the male and also gave a description to police of the vehicle, including a partial vehicle registration mark which was circulated to police crews.
A blue coloured Seat Leon was stopped by police in the Portadown Road area of Armagh a short time later.
The detective constable told the court that from the CCTV images circulated of the male police were able to identify the defendant – Lakin.
The occupants of the vehicle were searched and a quantity of what is believed to have been a Class C controlled drug was found in the vehicle, along with cash, including 19 £5 notes.
Lakin was arrested for robbery and cautioned at 12.50pm.
The detective constable added that CCTV from the incident would corroborate what the witnesses had said, that the Seat Leon car was used “as a getaway vehicle in both cases”.
