Liffey Valley Vodafone manager charged with stealing 14 smartphones

By Brendan Grehan

A MANAGER in Vodafone’s Liffey Valley store, who allegedly stole 14 smartphones and sold them to another man, had the cases remanded for a plea by Blanchardstown Court.

Judge David McHugh had previously accepted jurisdiction in Richard O’Rourke and Michael Walsh’s cases.

O’Rourke, aged 34, with an address at Park Dale, Grange Rath, Drogheda, is charged with stealing a Samsung phone from Vodafone Liffey Valley on a date between December 1 and December 31, 2014, with stealing an iPhone 6 worth €800 from Vodafone Liffey Valley on a date between February 23 and April 8, 2015.

He is also charged with stealing an iPhone 6 worth €800 from Vodafone Liffey Valley on a date between April 28 and June 16, 2015, with stealing an iPhone 6 worth €800 from Vodafone Liffey Valley on a date between April 28 and June 16, 2015, and with stealing a Samsung Galaxy S3 worth €400 from Vodafone Grafton Street on a date between June 3, 2014 and April 28, 2015.

O’Rourke is also charged with stealing two iPhone 6’s worth €800 each from Vodafone Liffey Valley on April 24, 2015.

He is also charged with stealing a Samsung S5 worth €550 from Vodafone Liffey Valley on a date between July 29, 2014 and April 28, 2015 and with stealing a gold iPhone 5s worth €550 from Vodafone Liffey Valley on a date between September 29, 2014 and April 28, 2015.

Michael Walsh, aged 32, with an address at Larkhill Road, Whitehall, Ballymun, is charged with seven charges of handling stolen iPhone 6’s, five charges of handling stolen Samsung S5’s, one charge of handling a stolen gold iPhone 5s and one charge of handling a stolen Samsung S4 on dates between June 3, 2014 and June 16, 2015.

The court had heard that it will be alleged that O’Rourke worked as a manager in the Vodafone shop in Liffey Valley and took 13 phones and sold them to Walsh.

It will also be alleged that O’Rourke worked in the Vodafone shop on Grafton Street and took a phone and sold it to Walsh.

O’Rourke and Walsh’s solicitor, Simon Fleming, said he had received disclosure. He said the disclosure was “voluminous and technical” and he would need some time to go through it.

Judge McHugh remanded O’Rourke and Walsh for five weeks for a plea or a date for hearing.