PAIR IN COURT OVER9 €6.2M DRUG HAUL
Two men arrested after massive cannabis seizure refused bail
TWO men charged in connection with a €6.2million cannabis haul were denied bail yesterday.
Michael Smullen, 31, and 37-year-old Keith Donoghue are accused of one count of possessing the drug and another of possession with intent to supply.
They were arrested on Wednesday evening after gardai raided a lock-up in Muckerstown, Ashbourne, Co Meath, and allegedly found the haul in an industrial storage unit.
Outlining the circumstances which led to the charges Detective Garda William Armstrong told Judge Cormac Dunne it would be alleged they were working a “conveyor type system”.
He told Trim District Court when he entered the unit he saw Smullen making up boxes from a flat pack.
He further alleges Donoghue was just a few metres away filling the containers with cannabis. During the brief hearing Judge Dunne was also told by Garda Donal Donoghue that Donoghue had a “ticklist” which had a list of names and numbers written on it.
Detective Armstrong said the 311kg haul of cannabis allegedly seized during the raid had an estimated street value of €6.2million.
He added he believed they were preparing the drugs for further distribution. Det Garda Armstrong said Smullen replied “No” when both charges were put to him in Ashbourne Garda station on Thursday at 9.05pm.
Garda Donoghue told the court that the second defendant – who is a father of one – made no reply to both charges.
In court yesterday Smullen, of Ashdale Close, Kinsealy, North Dublin, wore a dark jumper and jeans.
His co-accused, of Clonshaugh, also in the north of the city, wore a navy jumper and blue jeans.
Smullen applied for bail through his solicitor Ciaran Mulholland while Garrett Mccormack represented Donoghue. But Det Garda Armstrong and Garda Donoghue objected to the release of the men.
Judge Dunne listened to the arguments and then refused the applications because of the seriousness of the charges.
Smullen and Donoghue were remanded in custody for a week and they will appear again at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.
Judge Dunne was told by Mr Mccormack that Donoghue was in receipt of social welfare and documentation was provided to the court.
His mother and siblings were in the court while Smullen’s family members were also present.
Both men were granted legal aid.