Northern Ireland

Man charged with ATM thefts in Tyrone and Fermanagh

An ATM was stolen from Glendale Service Station on the Killyclogher Road outside Omagh in the early hours of February 14. Picture by Ronan McGrade/Pacemaker.
An ATM was stolen from Glendale Service Station on the Killyclogher Road outside Omagh in the early hours of February 14. Picture by Ronan McGrade/Pacemaker. An ATM was stolen from Glendale Service Station on the Killyclogher Road outside Omagh in the early hours of February 14. Picture by Ronan McGrade/Pacemaker.

A Tyrone man has appeared in court on offences connected to ATM thefts in Omagh and Fermanagh.

Matthew Joseph McLean (23) from Glenpark Road, Gortin, faces four charges, three of which relate to May 9.

These involve possessing and concealing criminal property as well as handling stolen properly, namely a low-loader.

There is a further charge from February 14 in which McLean is alleged to have stolen an Ifor Williams trailer to the value of £2000.

An ATM machine was removed by a digger at a filling station on the Dromore Road, Irvinestown on March 23. Picture by Ann McManus.
An ATM machine was removed by a digger at a filling station on the Dromore Road, Irvinestown on March 23. Picture by Ann McManus. An ATM machine was removed by a digger at a filling station on the Dromore Road, Irvinestown on March 23. Picture by Ann McManus.

A detective constable told Dungannon Magistrates Court she believed she could connect McLean to all charges.

The detective said police conducted a search of a shed in Beragh and recovered a £60,000 Hitachi digger, a trailer and a 40ft low-loader.

The digger was confirmed to have been stolen from premises in Eglish in February although it is not suspected of being involved in any ATM thefts.

However, the trailer and low-loader are believed to have been used in a raid in Omagh in February 14 and again in Irvinestown on March 23.

The stolen trailer has been identified by the owner but whilst it has been established the low-loader is stolen, the owner has yet to be traced.

The detective said the owner of the shed advised he leased it to McLean on April 9, and confirmed none of the items recovered were there prior to that date.

McLean was arrested and during interview given opportunities to account for the items but made no comment replies to all.

Police objected to bail.

A detective said: “Police believe some items recovered are linked to ATM thefts in Omagh and Irvinestown. We are aware of the impact these matters are having on the rural community. Police have an obligation to protect the public from further crime.”

Under cross-examination by a defence lawyer the detective confirmed the only evidence currently against McLean is the two statements given by the shed owner, and there was no contract or agreement in place for the lease.

But District Judge John Meehan held whilst the evidence is at this stage circumstantial, there is a strong prosecution case.

Bail was rejected and McLean will appear again by video-link at Omagh Magistrates Court on 4 June.