Tried And Emotional

Coughlan

t’s the one downside of having a perfect hideaway deep in the Wicklow countryside…

There’s very little chance that a neighbour is going to notice anyone suspicious lurking around your home.

At a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, Darren Carton (41) pleaded not guilty to a series of offences arising out of an alleged break-in at the Little Sugarloaf home of Mary Coughlan last year.

Mr Carton of Carraigoona Close, Kilmacanogue is accused of robbery at Ms Coughlan’s Barchuilla Commons home on January 9th, 2021, after allegedly trespassing on the property and engaging in theft.

He is also charged with threatening to kill Ciarán Farrelly, Coughlan’s son-in-law, on the same occasion.

There is also a third charge of criminal damage to a sliding door at the singer’s home on the same date.

With the trial set to begin at Bray Courthouse later this week, yesterday Judge James McCourt swore in a jury of eight men and four women.

The judge advised the jurors that one of the witnesses would be the well-known singer.