Irish men in Melbourne court accused of stealing $1 million as part of ‘sophisticated’ burglary gang – The Irish Times

Three Irish men have appeared in court after allegedly stealing $1 million worth of cash, jewelery and designer bags in a series of ‘sophisticated home burglaries’ in Australia this year.

According to the Australian Associated Press, Christie McDonagh, Michael McDonagh and James Connors were taken into custody on Friday following a hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

The men, aged 19, 24 and 25, have not applied for bail and will face a hearing in the case in August.

The men, of no fixed address, arrived in Australia in the past six months, Victoria Police said in a statement.

Following their arrest at a hotel near Melbourne Airport, the men were charged on Thursday with multiple charges of aggravated residential burglary, aggravated burglary, burglary and theft from a motor vehicle.

Victoria Police will allege the men broke into homes in Melbourne’s east while the residents were away, then tried to conceal evidence of the burglary with cleaning products.

Police will allege they were part of a wider syndicate that led to the arrest of three other Irish men in March.

“Investigators continue to investigate whether both groups are linked to other unsolved burglaries,” a police spokesperson said.