A grandmother accused of stealing an iPhone worth €1,800, a purse and bank cards as she was about to be released from a Garda station, has been refused bail.

Bridget Mongan, with a former address at Cóis na Coille, Ballybane, and now living in emergency accommodation in the city, appeared at Galway District Court, on five charges of theft contrary to Section 4 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

Garda Adam Maher gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court the accused made no reply to any of the charges after caution.

Objecting to the accused’s application for bail, Garda Maher, said that on January 18, Bridget Mongan was being released on station bail from the Garda North Western Regional Headquarters in Renmore.

The court heard it would be alleged that as she was about to leave the custody area, Mongan stole a number of items including an iPhone 17, a Michael Kors purse, a DKNY jacket and a number of bank cards and other documents belonging to another woman who was attending the station on an unrelated matter.

Garda Maher said he later became aware of the alleged theft and met the accused walking and carrying bags from Diesel and JD Sports.

He said it is alleged Mongan used the bank cards to purchase items from city centre businesses.

Defence solicitor, Michael Cunningham told the court his client left the family home on Christmas Day and now resided in emergency accommodation.

Mr Cunningham said Ms Mongan would abide by strict bail conditions including signing on daily at a Garda station, observing a curfew and staying out of Galway City.

Garda Maher said no conditions would satisfy the State’s concerns regarding bail.

In evidence, Bridget Mongan said she would sign on daily and agree to any conditions sought by the court.

Judge Adrian Harris said he had considered the merits of the application and was refusing bail on a number of grounds.

He remanded the accused in custody to appear again via video-link on January 26.

In the case, Bridget Mongan is charged with stealing a Bluetooth speaker and China cups from COPE Charity shop, Newtownsmith, on January 13.

She is charged that on January 18, at the Garda North Western Regional Headquarters, she stole a number of items, the property of another woman.

She is also charged with stealing amounts of cash from the woman during transactions at JD Sports, Diesel, Galway Shopping Centre and Henchy’s Daybreak, Rosemary Avenue, also on January 18.

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Pictured: The Garda North Western Regional Headquarters in Murrough, Renmore.