Ex-Ryanair pilot charged over €10m drugs seizure has bail application pending at High Court

Gordon Deegan

A former Ryanair pilot who is charged in connection with the possession of more than €10 million worth of drugs has an application for bail pending before the High Court, a court has heard.

Brendan O’Mara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, made his fourth appearance at Ennis District Court concerning the seizure of an estimated €10 million worth of cannabis at his home in Co Clare on May 7th.

Mr O’Mara appeared in court on Wednesday via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused him bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on May 10th following Garda objections.

Judge Gabbett asked if there was any news on directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Sgt Frank O’Grady said DPP directions were still outstanding.

Mr O’Mara's solicitor, Ted McCarthy, said: “There is a bail application pending before the High Court and I am hoping that will be resolved shortly.”

Mr McCarthy asked that the case be adjourned for two weeks and Judge Gabbett said that if Mr O’Mara does secure High Court bail in the meantime he must turn up to court in person on June 25th.

Mr O’Mara faces two charges – possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis, on May 7th.

At the contested bail hearing on May 10th, gardaí told the court Mr O’Mara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that “further, and more serious charges” may be brought against him in respect of the case where gardaí seized an estimated 502kg in cannabis.

Sergeant Rob Sheehy of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit said he was objecting to bail because of the “strength and nature of the evidence” as well as the high value of the drugs.

He told the court that the Garda investigation was in its “infancy”, but he said gardaí believed that “it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established”.

He claimed Mr O’Mara was also a flight risk, due to his “aeronautical knowledge”, that he has a number of pilots licenses, and has links to the USA.

Applying for bail on May 10th, solicitor Tara Godfrey said the accused has “three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and a EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence”, and he would “hand over” his licences to the State and not leave the country.

“His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,” Ms Godfrey said.

Ms Godfrey said a sister of Mr O’Mara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000.

Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody, Ms Godfrey said Mr O’Mara “has offered up all the means he could to leave this country” and has significant ties here.

“He enjoys the presumption of innocence,” she said.

Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O'Mara in custody to re-appear at Ennis District Court on June 25th.