An aviation broker charged in connection with a seizure of heroin valued at €10 million at a small airport in Belgium has been refused bail by the High Court.
Mr Justice Paul Gilligan said he was satisfied that John Kinsella, who has bank accounts and property abroad, would be a flight risk if given bail.
Mr Kinsella (36) Cairn Wood, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, a former national super heavy weight boxing champion, is charged with conspiracy to import controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. The charges relate to the seizure of 50kg of heroin at an airfield in Belgium on Septembver 26th last.
The court was told yesterday that a friend of Mr Kinsella was willing to provide an independent bail surety of €100,000. Mr Kinsella told the court his wife, Hazel, is due to give birth in four weeks time and he also has two daughters age 12 and 14 years from a previous relationship, who are also living here.
He said his computers and files had been seized and he did not have the wherewithal to charter a flight. His plane in France was being maintained and he had no access to an aircraft.
"My children and wife are here. I don't want to be anywhere else but Ireland. If granted bail I would spend as much time as possible with my wife whom I sorely miss and who could go into labour at any time," he said.
Mr Justice Gilligan said he preferred the evidence of Det Garda Peter Gilligan who said he believed that, if granted bail, Mr Kinsella would be a flight risk.
Det Garda Gilligan had told the court he believed that, if granted bail, Mr Kinsella would not stand trial. He said Mr Kinsella was a broker who chartered private jets and and had many contacts with people in the aviation industry.
Det Garda Gilligan said Mr Kinsella's home was worth €1.3 million and he also had another house worth €420,000, both of which were being remortgaged for a third property with a mortgage of €600,000. There was also a property in Thailand worth €300,000.