Father and son charged following garda impersonation investigation in Laois and other counties

A father and son have appeared before Kilkenny District Court charged following a garda investigative operation targeting a criminal gang involved in impersonations of members of An Garda Síochána.

Andrew Cash, 12 Whitechurch Heights, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, was charged with the burglary of a home in Glenmore on February 19 last. His son John Cash, 13 Labre Park, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was charged with forgery.

The forgery was that on October 6, 2022, at Lyreen Close, Mariaville, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, did make a false instrument to wit, A Vehicle Registration Certificate Form RF101 for a Vauxhall Astra  in the name of James Doyle with the intention that it be used to induce another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act, or to make some omission, to the prejudice of that person or any other person. Contrary to Section 25 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

The court heard in relation to John Cash that he was arrested and charged today (Thursday) at Kilkenny Garda Station. In reply he said “no comment.”

Mr Cash was released on bail on several conditions: that he enter a bond for €1,000, reside at his home address, observe a curfew between 10pm and 7am, have no contact with witnesses in the case, and not leave Dublin except in the case of a genuine emergency. He is also to provide gardaí with a contact phone number and inform them if he comes into possession of a vehicle.

The matter was adjourned to May 22, for directions from the DPP, when Mr Cash is to appear again before Kilkenny District Court.

Andrew Cash, the court heard, was arrested today (Thursday) at 1pm in Kilkenny Courthouse and later charged at Kilkenny Garda Station. He was cautioned and his reply to the charge was “no comment.”

Gardaí objected to bail being granted to Mr Cash on several grounds, including the seriousness of the charge.

Detective Garda David Conway told the court it will be garda evidence that on February 19, 2023, Andrew Cash entered the home of an 89 year old man in the Glenmore area. Between 12noon and 12.20pm, when the man was asleep on his couch, Mr Cash walked around the house while wearing a covid-type face mask.

The detective garda said evidence will be that internal CCTV from the home captured images.

Solicitor Chris Hogan applied for bail for his client. He said a forensic science report will take some time and he said his client was prepared to sign on at a garda station if granted bail.

Judge Geraldine Carthy refused bail for Andrew Cash under Section 2 of the Bail Act.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Kilkenny District Court, via video link, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, when he was further remanded to May 25.

The original version of this article stated John Cash was charged with burglary. It has been amended to reflect that he was in fact charged with forgery.