Two men appear in court in connection with €8.7m drugs seizure in Co Meath

Paul Murphy

Two men aged 38 and 40 with Co Meath addresses appeared at a special court in Trim this evening charged in connection with the discovery of drugs valued at €8.7 million in Co Meath and other addresses on Monday (5th August)

Taxi driver Gareth Ryan aged 38 with an address in Drumree Co Meath and Darren Callaghan (40) with an address in Co Meath that cannot be disclosed at the request of the court were charged with possession of cannabis, heroin and cocaine for sale or supply at as storage unit at Woodcockstown, Drumree on 3rd August. Separate bail hearings spanned over three hours before Judge Susan Fay at Trim District Court.

Detectives Val Russell and Eamonn Tighe giving evidence of arrest and caution alleged that the men had been "caught red handed". The court was told that cannabis valued at €7.4m was allegedly found inside a shed and two vans in a field in Co Meath following monitoring by Gardai. Between the location in the field at Drumree and other locations it was claimed that Gardai discovered cannabis, heroin and cocaine valued at €8.7m.

Locations at Ashbourne Co Meath and also on the Louth-Meath border were also searched as part of an operation, the court heard.

One detective said that the drugs were part of a "transnational organised crime operation". Both accused were charged with possession of drugs for sale or supply.

Detective Garda Russell said that an operation wa set up by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Unit to monitor activity on the field at Drumree. It was alleged that the two men were observed in activity at the field. It was claimed that the two men were in a storage shed on the land at different periods and that each of them locked themselves inside for long periods. It was alleged that 23 large boxes of suspected cannabis were found in a van in the shed.

It was claimed that when Ryan came to the field in a Landrover cash of €1,150 in €50 note was found in his wallet and this and a mobile found were seized. It was aso stated that in a follow up search at Ryan's home in Drumree, cash of €9,000 was found. Judge Fay was told that Callaghan was allegedly using his home address and a number of locations for the preparation of drugs for "an organised crime group". Both detectives objected to bail. Both men had applied for bail but were without legal representation in court because of the solicitors dispute.

Judge Fay granted bail of €500 with independent sureties to be approved by a court of €20,000 (with €10,000 cash lodgement). with strict conditions that they reside at certain addresses, sign on daily at Garda Stations, obey curfews, provide Gardai with mobile phone numbers and have no contact with prosecution witnesses or with each other. They were remanded to Cloverhill Prison with consent to bail to appear before Trim District Court on Tuesday 11th August.