A family who recently moved from the America to Galway for work commitments have been left “traumatised” after they were the victims of an alleged late night burglary, a court has heard.

Two parents and their children were asleep in the house in Salthill when it is alleged Ryan Goldbey (30) forced open a door at around 3.15am on November 22, rummaged around and stole three bank cards, Galway District Court heard.

Objecting to the accused’s application for bail, Detective Garda Ronan Leonard told the court it was alleged Goldbey then went to the casino at Seapoint Leisure and used the cards for 10 ‘tapping’ transactions of €30 each.

The court heard the bank blocked the cards due to the level of suspicious activity and a person alleged to be the accused was captured on CCTV.

Detective Leonard said this alleged offence is serious and the family had recently travelled from the United States to Ireland for work commitments and were “quite traumatised” by what happened.

Ryan Goldbey interjected a number of times as Detective Leonard outlined the State’s objections to bail, saying, “You’re a f*****g bull-sh****r and “full of f*****g s***”.

He apologised to the court and to Detective Leonard after Judge John King warned the accused he would be removed to the cells and the application would continue in his absence.

Detective Leonard said the evidence in the case was strong and Gardaí would have serious concerns should the accused be granted bail.

In the witness box, Ryan Goldbey said he would abide by any bail conditions set down by the court including curfew and signing on at a Garda station. He told the court he was currently living at his brother’s address at 28 Sandy Road in Galway.

He again apologised to Judge King and Detective Garda Leonard for his earlier outburst.

Judge King said this was a serious charge concerning a family home that may ultimately be heard in the Circuit Court.

He said the court was satisfied the threshold had been met to refuse bail.

He remanded the accused in custody to appear again via video-link.

The judge granted a legal aid application for solicitor John Martin to represent the accused.

Judge King also granted liberty to the defence to renew the bail application under certain circumstances.

In the case, Ryan Goldbey, who also had addresses at Fána Búrca, Knocknacarra, and Dún Aras, Bishop O’Donnell Road, faces two charges of burglary at the family home in Salthill and at a separate, neighbouring property, also in Salthill, on November 22.

He is also accused of handling stolen bank cards at Seapoint Casino and stealing monies totalling €300, also on November 22.

Goldbey is charged with eight other offences under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

These include two charges of theft at Dealz, Headford Road Shopping Centre, on November 24 and November 6. He is also charged with burglary at Dealz. Headford Road on November 6.

Goldbey is further charged with stealing cosmetics, perfume and toiletries worth €1,000 from Leo Walsh Pharmacy, Shanogort Road on June 20 and stealing a further €1,000 worth of goods from the same business between June 11 and June 12.

He is also accused of stealing groceries from Tesco, Newcastle Road, on December 2 and stealing brandy and refills for an electric toothbrush from Tesco, Knocknacarra, on June 15.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme

Pictured: Galway Courthouse