Man charged over schoolboy mugging; apologises for throwing bottle at judge
By David Raleigh
A man who threw a bottle of Coke at a judge last week after she refused him bail, apologised in court today, telling the judge: "I lost the head".
Clyde Keogh, 20, who was charged last week with mugging two boys aged 13 and 15, appeared via video link in front of judge Marian O'Leary at Limerick District Court today.
Addressing the court Mr Keogh said: "Your Honour, I'm sorry for throwing Coke in the courtroom last week. My apologies. I lost the head."
Mr Keogh engaged in "a 20-minute violent crime spree specifically targeting school children in a violent manner" Detective Garda Enda Haugh alleged in court last week.
The detective told the court Mr Keogh allegedly threatened to shoot a 13-year old boy who was walking to school, unless the youth gave the accused his mobile phone on January 25 last.
Mr Keogh, of Ballyclough Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, is charged with robbing the boy, 13, of a black Sony Xperia M2 Aqua mobile phone worth €250 at Athlunkard Street, Limerick.
He is also charged with robbing a 15-year old boy of an iPhone 4, worth €300, at Canal Bank, Lee Estate, Limerick on the same date.
He is further charged with attempting to rob another 15-year old boy at Athlunkard Street, Limerick, in January 25 last.
Mr Keogh is also charged with robbing an 18-year old man of a Galaxy 3 mobile phone, worth €300, at Athlunkard Street, Limerick also on the same date.
Detective Garda Enda Haugh, of Mayorstone garda station, alleged the accused told one of the 15-year-old boys that he had a knife and he would stab him if he didn't hand over his mobile phone.
The court heard the boy fled and reported the incident at his school.
Detective Haugh said ten minutes afterwards Mr Keogh robbed the 18-year old male after again threatened to stab him.
He said, a few minutes later, Mr Keogh then threatened to stab the other 15-year old boy who was cycling to school, and that the victim handed over his phone to the accused.
Det Garda Haugh told the court Gardaí accepted Mr Keogh did not have a weapon on him when he allegedly carried out the robberies.
The detective said he believed the accused would "continue to commit further serious offences" if granted bail.
Mr Keogh broke down last week as he appealed to judge O'Leary not to remand him in custody.
He told the judge: "I have a son, he's only three weeks old and he's getting christened in three weeks time. I don't want to miss his christening."
Today Mr Keogh was remanded in continuing custody to appear before Limerick District Court again on February 16.
