Two men charged with having cocaine worth €70,000 in their car

TWO men from Northern Ireland were brought before the District Court in Gorey after cocaine believed to be worth €70,000 was found in Wexford.

Charged with having drugs for sale or supply to others were Martin Digney (37), with an address pf 15 Elmwood Drive, Newry and Gavin McManus (32) of 22 Regina Park, Jonesborough, Newry.

The granting of bail was opposed by Sergeant Gary Rayner and by arresting Garda Alan Hayes who discovered the stash in the boot of a car at O’Rahilly Place in Wexford.

Garda Hayes pointed out that both of the accused normally reside outside the jurisdiction and he reckoned they had been caught red-handed.

He signalled that he expected further charges to follow once the matter has been given full consideration by the DPP.

However, Judge Gerard Haughton was prepared to set terms of bail after hearing from the fathers of the pair.

Alan McManus offered to go bail for his son Gavin and offered to allow him stay with him at an address in Dundalk – 3 Mount Pleasant – while the case is pending.

He had €700 in court but the judge ruled that €2,300 cash would have to be produced before the defendant could be allowed his liberty.

Later, former school principal James Digney of Rock Lodge, Ash Grove, Newry offered to allow his son stay with him while the case is pending and to go bail.

The judge pointed out that, if the court granted the application, then both the father and Martin Digney would be outside the jurisdiction, making it difficult to enforce any con- ditions the court might attach to bail.

Despite his reservations, the judge ruled that the accused could be released if the father produced €3,000 cash.

Once bail has been posted, the two defendants will be required to sign on regularly at the garda station in Dundalk.

The prosecution was adjourned to May 16.