NI man refused bail ahead of retrial on Lordship-related robbery charges

A man from County Down has been refused bail ahead of his retrial at the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to a conspiracy to steal vehicles allegedly connected to the January 2013 Lordship Credit Union robbery in County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. James Flynn, aged 43, with an address in Newry, was arrested following extradition from the United Kingdom and now faces renewed legal proceedings after the Court of Appeal quashed his earlier conviction. The appellate court found that the Special Criminal Court had breached his constitutional right to natural justice by amending the indictment without consulting his legal representatives, necessitating a fresh trial. Presiding Justice Karen O'Connor rejected Flynn's bail application despite submissions from his defence that proposed residence conditions with a family member in Monaghan would satisfy the court's concerns. The three-judge, non-jury court was presented with evidence that Flynn holds dual citizenship of the United Kingdom and the United States and maintains established business interests in both jurisdictions. The judge cited his financial capacity and multinational connections as substantial grounds for concern that he poses a flight risk. Gardaí objected to bail release and raised concerns about potential witness intimidation. A detective inspector outlined incidents during related proceedings in which witnesses were allegedly discouraged from giving evidence and video testimony was shared on social media with inflammatory commentary. These concerns weighed heavily in the court's decision to remand Flynn in custody pending trial. The charges against Flynn relate to the conspiracy to steal a Volkswagen Passat in late January 2013 at locations in County Louth. The vehicle is alleged to have been used in the Lordship robbery two days after its theft. Flynn's co-accused, Brendan Treanor, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit burglary in an earlier verdict but faces continued proceedings on the robbery charge, which both men deny.