PAINTER 'CAN EARN THOUSANDS PUTTING UP BAIL'

A HOUSE painter who claimed he could earn up to pounds 2,000 a time for
putting up bail in drugs cases was yesterday approved as a surety for a man
accused of having pounds 150,000 worth of cocaine and ecstasy.

Edward Fenelon, who denied he was a professional bailsman, said he had
previously put up bail for other people including convicted drug baron Tony
Felloni. He said the "normal rate" for doing so was ten pc of the bail money
though it could be 20pc in drugs cases.

He was giving evidence in a bail application for John Paul Duff (20),
Foxborough Meadows, Lucan, Co Dublin, who is charged with possession of
pounds 150,000 worth of cocaine and ecstasy at Scribblestown,
Blanchardstown, on July 29. Independent bail had been set at pounds 20,000
at a previous Dublin District Court hearing.

Mr Fenelon, of Avondale Park, Dublin, said he knew Mr Duff's family well,
though it was four years since he had met the accused himself. He had been
approached to put up bail by Mr Duff's brother. He said he had stood bail in
other cases and all the defendants had turned up in court when he did so,
including Tony Felloni. Asked by prosecuting Garda Mark McMahon how much he
would get for standing bail he said: "Usually a day's pay, because I lose
time out of work." When pressed about a conversation he had had with the
garda before the court about what the "normal rate" would be, he said: "They
would put you on a promise of about 10pc." Asked would it be up to 20pc in
drugs cases he said: "You can ask for it." He had not asked for it in this
case. Asked was he a professional surety he said: "Not really, no, I am a
house painter."

Mr Fenelon produced a bank book to show he was worth the pounds 20,000 bail
figure set in this case. He denied the money in the account was the proceeds
of standing bail for others and said it had come from a property he had sold
and from savings. He accepted that if Duff did not turn up in court he could
lose the pounds 20,000 but added: "Life is full of risks anyway, isn't it?"

Judge William Early approved Mr Fenelon as surety on an undertaking he would
not reduce his bank balance below pounds 20,000. He warned Mr Fenelon that
should he do so he would be considered to be in contempt of court and could
go to jail.

Duff was remanded on bail to October next.