Tipperary man denied bail over €8.1m drugs haul in Laois
Portlaoise District Court
A 39-YEAR-old man accused of possessing €8.1million worth of drugs in Laois was denied bail when he appeared before Portlaoise District Court on Monday 3 November.
Thomas Ryan of Woodview, Boulick, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co Tipperary was in court charged under Sections 3 and Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (possessing cocaine for his own use and for sale or supply) on 28 October at Kilnaseer, Rathdowney.
The defendant’s solicitor Aonghus McCarthy applied for bail for his client. Detective Garda Stephen Gillespie from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau said he was opposing the application.
Det Gillespie said because of an investigation carried out by the national drugs unit against organised crime relating to a criminal organisation, Mr Ryan was identified as being allegedly involved in the storage and distribution of controlled drugs for the criminal organisation.
He said that on 25 October gardaí searched the accused’s address and seized two vehicles. Gardaí allegedly uncovered “a sophisticated motorised concealment” within one of the vehicles.
He said that three days later, on 28 October, a search was carried out in a wooded area in Kilnaseer. During the search he alleged that 116kg of cocaine in various block sizes were found, with an estimated street value of €8,100,000, subject to analysis.
The garda said that a sample taken from one €70,000 block was forensically analysed and allegedly found to contain cocaine.
Det Gillespie said that during his detention at Abbeyleix Garda Station, Mr Ryan was interviewed six times and admitted his involvement in the storage and distribution of the controlled drugs.
He said it was expected the case would proceed on indictment and that further charges may be preferred against the accused.
Mr McCarthy said that his client was born and bred in Gortnahoe and his father Thomas senior is a farmer for a good 50-years.
He said that Mr Ryan worked as a qualified carpenter and “had a decent reputation for his carpentry skills” and was busy for the past 20 years or so in the area.
Taking the stand, 74-year-old Thomas Ryan senior said he has not got control over all his farm as he handed some of his land over to his son. He said he understood that if he lodged bail for his son, who didn’t turn up for another hearing, committed another offence and was arrested, that the bail money would be forfeited.
Mr McCarthy said that his client was entitled to bail with a substantial surety and strict conditions.
He said: "Mr Ryan is a gentleman with a good work history. He’s not the type of person we often hear from in these types of cases, reliant on social welfare. He has proven over the last 20 years he can go out and work.”
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said: “It’s one of the most serious cases that ever came before this court in my experience here. No conditions will satisfy the detective for bail.”
Judge Susan Fay refused bail and remanded Mr Ryan in custody to appear again at Portlaoise District Court on 17 November for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
