Ireland Case No. 10808Robbery · Co. Clare · 21 Jan 2026
Four men remanded over Carrigaholt Post Office robbery, Clare
Four men are accused of robbing An Post Carrigaholt on The Square, Carrigaholt, Co Clare, on 21 January 2026. Gardaí allege two men entered the post office and assaulted the post-mistress, Maura McKiernan, with iron bars, while Darragh Pender (30) and Martin Downes (36) acted as getaway drivers, and Michael McMahon (38) and Darren Cassidy (38) were also accused. The four were arrested after a high-speed car chase across West Clare and charged with robbery under Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. All four were refused bail at Ennis District Court on 23 January, and on 11 February Downes secured conditional High Court bail but remained in custody because he had no bail address. The latest development, reported on 25 February, is that the file is at completion stage and the next court date is 11 March.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court11 Feb
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Four men are accused of robbing Carrigaholt Post Office.
- Cash, coins and a cheque worth €8,944.63 were allegedly taken.
- The post-mistress, Maura McKiernan, was allegedly violently and viciously assaulted.
- Where
- The robbery took place at An Post Carrigaholt on The Square, Carrigaholt, Co Clare.
- When
- The robbery took place on 21 January 2026.
- Weapon
- Two men allegedly entered the premises and assaulted the post-mistress with iron bars.
- Other details
- Gardaí allege the robbery was carried out by a four-person gang, with Darragh Pender and Martin Downes as getaway drivers and two men who entered the post office.
- According to a Garda sergeant, neither Pender nor Downes has any previous convictions.
- Investigation
- Gardaí arrested the four men after a high-speed car chase across West Clare.
- Gardaí say items were thrown from a second getaway car, and €6,500 in notes and coins was recovered from the road.
- The file in the case is at completion stage.
- Charges
- The four men are charged with robbery under Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
- Gardaí described the charge as a serious offence.
- In court
- All four were refused bail at Ennis District Court on 23 January.
- On 11 February, Downes secured conditional consent to bail in the High Court but had not taken it up because of an issue with his address.
- The High Court refused McMahon bail and remanded him in custody to 11 March.
36 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCash, coins and a cheque worth €8,944.63 were allegedly taken. (clareecho.ie)
- whatFour men are accused of robbing Carrigaholt Post Office. (clareecho.ie)
- whatThe post-mistress was allegedly violently and viciously assaulted. (clareecho.ie)
- whatGardaí allege that Pender and Downes were the getaway drivers. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe robbery was at An Post Carrigaholt on The Square, Carrigaholt. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe robbery took place at An Post Carrigaholt on The Square, Carrigaholt. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe alleged robbery took place on January 21. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe robbery took place on 21 January. (clareecho.ie)
- weaponTwo men entered the premises and assaulted the post-mistress with iron bars. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested the four suspects after a high-speed car chase across West Clare. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí recovered €6,500 in notes and coins from the road. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationThe file in the case is at completion stage. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeThe four men are charged with robbery contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeThe four men are charged with robbing the post-mistress of cash, coins and a cheque worth €8,944.63. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeThe charge is brought under Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeGardaí described the charge as a serious offence. (clareecho.ie)
- courtOne accused secured conditional consent to bail in the High Court. (clareecho.ie)
- courtAll four were initially refused bail at Ennis District Court on January 23. (clareecho.ie)
- courtMartin Downes was remanded in custody with consent to bail under the High Court order but had not taken up his bail. (clareecho.ie)
- courtDownes's bail was delayed by an issue with the address where he would reside. (clareecho.ie)
- courtDarragh Pender's solicitor said a bail address is an issue. (clareecho.ie)
- courtDarren Cassidy's solicitor said his client would not be applying for bail. (clareecho.ie)
- courtMichael McMahon's solicitor said his client would apply for bail in the High Court. (clareecho.ie)
- courtMcMahon, Cassidy and Pender were remanded in custody to appear again on February 25. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Ennis District Court. (clareecho.ie)
- courtPender is on remand with High Court consent to bail but cannot take up bail without a bail address. (clareecho.ie)
- courtPender has no outside support in prison and his family has backed away for the moment. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe High Court refused McMahon bail and remanded him in custody to 11 March. (clareecho.ie)
- courtDownes secured High Court bail on condition he provides an address, but remains in custody. (clareecho.ie)
- courtCassidy remains in custody and there was no High Court bail application in his case. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe judge first refused bail to all four at Ennis District Court last month. (clareecho.ie)
- courtAll four were remanded in custody to appear at Ennis District Court on 11 March. (clareecho.ie)
- otherGardaí allege the robbery was carried out by a four-person gang with two getaway drivers and two men who entered the post office. (clareecho.ie)
- otherGardaí allege Darragh Pender and Martin Downes were the getaway drivers. (clareecho.ie)
- otherGardaí say items were thrown from a second getaway car, and €6,500 in notes and coins was later recovered from the road. (clareecho.ie)
- otherBoth Pender and Downes have no previous convictions, according to the Garda sergeant. (clareecho.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Feb2026Prison support sought for Carrigaholt robbery accused who has been in same clothes for a month - Clare Echo
Court report from Ennis District Court on 25 February 2026 covering the bail and remand status of all four accused, including a solicitor's request for prison support for one of them. Adds that the file is at completion stage and that the next court date is 11 March.
accused, Darragh Pender, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Penderaccused, Michael McMahon, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael McMahonaccused, Martin Downes, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Downesaccused, Darren Cassidy, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Cassidyvictim, Maura McKiernan, irish (judged from name)Maura McKiernan - 11 Feb2026One of four men accused of Carrigaholt robbery secures conditional High Court consent to bail - Clare Echo
Reports the High Court bail consent for Martin Downes, the bail address problems for Downes and Darragh Pender, the remands of McMahon, Cassidy and Pender to February 25, and the Garda account of the alleged roles and the €6,500 recovered.
victim, Maura McKiernan, irish (judged from name)Maura McKiernanaccused, Martin Downes, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Downesaccused, Michael McMahon, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael McMahonaccused, Darren Cassidy, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Cassidyaccused, Darragh Pender, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Pender