DRUGS POST TRIAL
DRUGS WERE ALLEGEDLY HIDDEN INSIDE THE SOLES OF A PAIR OF TRAINERS
The trial of a Sligoman charged with supplying drugs into Castlerea Prison continues this week at the Circuit Court.
John Kennedy (31) of Cairns Drive has pleaded not guilty to conveying the drug, PVP (Pyrrolidinovalerophenone) into Castlerea Prison between April 9 th and 10 th 2015 and to the possession of the drug at Ballisodare Post Office on April 9 th.
The case is being heard before a jury of eight men and four women before Judge Francis Comerford.
The drugs were found inside the soles of a pair of grey Adidas trainers which were posted to an inmate.
Retired Sergeant Michael Clesham who was stationed at Castlelrea Garda Station told Judge Comerford last Thursday 1st March that on April 10 th 2015 he received a call from Castlerea Prison informing him that a parcel had been intercepted.
He was requested to go to the search area at the entrance to the prison and arrived at 12 noon.
He was met by Assistant Chief Officer Ian McDonagh at the X-Ray machines and was shown a pair of grey Adidas trainers with black stripes.
“I was shown where items were concealed in the shoes,” he told prosecuting barrister for the State Ms Dara Foynes BL.
“The items were concealed in the sole of the shoes,” he added.
He was shown a pair of grey trainers by a Garda exhibits officer and confirmed for the jury they were the trainers he took possession of in April 2015.
Sgt Clesham said he took possession of the trainers and a number of items that had been placed inside Prison Service bags, including blue tablets which were the alleged controlled drugs, a letter and the large white padded envelope everything arrived in.
“This is the letter that was sent to Ryan Lait and these are the drugs,” he said, holding up a bag of blue tablets to the jury.
A prison officer had carried out a preliminary test for drugs.
He told the court he took the items away with him to Castlerea Garda Station where he registered the controlled drugs and placed them inside a secure steel safe.
The remaining items he placed in his locker in the office where he worked.
On 15 th April 2015, Sgt Clesham said Sergeant Keenan Brennan from the Divisional Drugs Unit came to Castlerea Garda Station.
Sgt Clesham took out the same items and put them into Garda evidence bags, Sgt Brennan labelled them in his presence and took them away.
Under cross-examination by defence barrister Ms Deirdre....BL, Sgt Clesham was asked if he recalled bagging the items before he left Castlerea Prison.
“I don’t recall bagging them. I just recall taking them into my official possession and taking them to Castlerea Station,” he replied.
The case resumes at Sligo Courthouse today (Tuesday) 6 th March.