News (Media Awareness Project) - Ireland: Three Charged Following Pounds 15m Cannabis |
| Title: | Ireland: Three Charged Following Pounds 15m Cannabis |
| Published On: | 1999-11-20 |
| Source: | Examiner, The (Ireland) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 15:07:52 |
THREE CHARGED FOLLOWING POUNDS 15M CANNABIS SEIZURE
THREE Englishmen were yesterday remanded in custody when they appeared in
court charged in connection with the seizure of pounds 15 million of
cannabis resin on board a converted trawler off the West Cork coast earlier
this week.
Richard George Preece 49) Barry Court 52) and Matthew Paul Simpkins 32)
were all charged with possessing cannabis resin with intent to supply on
November 16 when they were brought before Macroom District Court yesterday.
The three were also charged under customs legislation with importing the
illegal drug into Irish territorial waters off the Fastnet Rock on the same
date and with dealing with the illegally imported drug again on the same date.
Det. Sgt Gerry McCarthy gave evidence of arresting, cautioning and charging
Richard Preece with an address at 50 Lorraine Mansions, Widdenham, London
N7. Preece replied that he had nothing to say upon being charged after
caution, he said. Det. Garda Jim Fitzgerald and Det. Garda Bart O'Leary
gave similar evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Court
from 49 Zabel Alto, La Linia, Cadiz, Spain, and Simpkins from Calle Duque
de Tetonne 16, La Linia, Cadiz, Spain.
Customs Officer Paddy O'Sullivan also told the court that the three men had
nothing to say when he charged them with the customs offences of importing
and dealing with the drug in Irish territorial waters.
State solicitor for West Cork, Malachy Boohig, applied to have all three
men remanded in custody to Bantry District Court next Friday and the men's
solicitor, Con Murphy said his clients had no objection to being remanded
in custody.
Judge James O'Connor - who had granted the three men free legal aid after
hearing they had no assets in the State - remanded all three in custody to
Cork Prison to appear at Bantry District Court on November 26. None of the
three accused men - all of whom were casually dressed - spoke in court.
They all looked relaxed as they sat together in the dock flanked by
gardaED during the hearing which lasted just seven minutes.
THREE Englishmen were yesterday remanded in custody when they appeared in
court charged in connection with the seizure of pounds 15 million of
cannabis resin on board a converted trawler off the West Cork coast earlier
this week.
Richard George Preece 49) Barry Court 52) and Matthew Paul Simpkins 32)
were all charged with possessing cannabis resin with intent to supply on
November 16 when they were brought before Macroom District Court yesterday.
The three were also charged under customs legislation with importing the
illegal drug into Irish territorial waters off the Fastnet Rock on the same
date and with dealing with the illegally imported drug again on the same date.
Det. Sgt Gerry McCarthy gave evidence of arresting, cautioning and charging
Richard Preece with an address at 50 Lorraine Mansions, Widdenham, London
N7. Preece replied that he had nothing to say upon being charged after
caution, he said. Det. Garda Jim Fitzgerald and Det. Garda Bart O'Leary
gave similar evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Court
from 49 Zabel Alto, La Linia, Cadiz, Spain, and Simpkins from Calle Duque
de Tetonne 16, La Linia, Cadiz, Spain.
Customs Officer Paddy O'Sullivan also told the court that the three men had
nothing to say when he charged them with the customs offences of importing
and dealing with the drug in Irish territorial waters.
State solicitor for West Cork, Malachy Boohig, applied to have all three
men remanded in custody to Bantry District Court next Friday and the men's
solicitor, Con Murphy said his clients had no objection to being remanded
in custody.
Judge James O'Connor - who had granted the three men free legal aid after
hearing they had no assets in the State - remanded all three in custody to
Cork Prison to appear at Bantry District Court on November 26. None of the
three accused men - all of whom were casually dressed - spoke in court.
They all looked relaxed as they sat together in the dock flanked by
gardaED during the hearing which lasted just seven minutes.
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