A West Belfast man who was unlawfully at large for 43 hours the last time he was granted bail had another bid for temporary release rejected today (Wednesday)
Patrick Joseph McMahon – who has 113 previous convictions on his criminal record – made the unsuccessful application for compassionate bail at Belfast Crown Court.
The 46-year old grandfather, from Whiterock Drive, was due to be arraigned today on charges linked to an incident in November 2022.
Whilst the arraignment did not go ahead due to the ongoing barristers strike, an application to grant McMahon compassionate bail to allow him to visit both his mother and granddaughter proceeded.
Regarding the arraignment, McMahon was facing charges including conspiracy to rob and several firearms offences.
However, it was indicated in court that an additional charge of assisting offenders is being added to the bill of indictment.
Solicitor Joe Hackett said that McMahon would be pleading to that charge and a Crown barrister confirmed that if this was the case, the other charges levelled at McMahon would be left on the books.
The charges relate to an incident in November 2022 when a white van was stopped on the Rosapenna Drive in Belfast. When the vehicle was searched, two co-accused were in the front whilst McMahon was in the back behind a partition.
The prosecutor said: “Pleas entered by the co-defendants indicate that this was a van which was going on a job to commit a robbery and the prosecution case is that Mr McMahon was part of that.
“There was a firearm in the front of the van but we accept that he (McMahon) was behind the partition and the firearm was in the front.”
Addressing the compassionate bail application, McMahon’s solicitor said this was to allow him to visit both his mother and granddaughter “for a few hours” as they are both unwell.
The Crown barrister said this was being objected to for several reasons including McMahon’s criminal background and “what happened in a previous compassionate bail application in July last year.”
On this occasion, McMahon was released for a limited period to attend his granddaughter’s Christening – an instead of returning to custody when he was supposed to, the prosecutor said he was “unlawfully at large for 43 hours.”
McMahon failed to return to HMP Maghaberry at 5pm on July 28th as planned and after driving around Belfast whilst unlawfully at large, he eventually handed himself in at Musgrave PSNI station on July 30th and was returned to prison.
The Crown barrister also raised concerns about McMahon’s criminal background which includes firearms and weapons offences as well as charges of robbery.
He added that when stopped by the police in November 2022, McMahon was on licence and on that occasion it was the view of the Crown that McMahon’s co-defendants has “recruited him as an experienced robber.”
After listening to submissions from both the Crown and defence, Judge Patricia Smyth: “This man’s history would clearly militate against bail been granted.”
Branding McMahon’s criminal record as” very serious”, Judge Smyth said his behaviour when granted bail last July was “nothing short of disgraceful”.
She added: “Under no circumstances will I grant this application.” The hearing concluded when the Belfast Recorder re-listed the case for arraignment on February 3rd.
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