Two Brazilians who have been working at the Liffey Meats factory in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, appeared at a special sitting of Cavan District Court yesterday morning before Judge Cormac Dunne, on work permit charges.
Both were remanded in custody to Castlereagh Prison, to appear at Ballyjamesduff District Court on Thursday at 10.30 a.m.
The two were arrested on Saturday during investigations into the finding of the body of Jamie Maughan (13), in Cavan last Sunday. The father of the dead girl Mr Brian Maughan was in court and Chief Supt Colm Rooney sat beside him.
Mr William Lazario da Silva, Ash Street, Cavan and Mr Weldo Cavalcante (23), Liffey Meats House, Killinkere, were both charged, that at Liffey Meats on July 9th, 2004, they did as non-nationals, enter the service of an employer in this State, without holding an employment permit, granted by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
They are also charged with being non-nationals in the State without permission. Mr da Silva when asked by Sgt Eugene Cassidy if he anything to say to the charges, said "no". Supt Joe O'Sullivan asked that this defendant be remanded in custody. "This gentleman has no ties to this country". He objected to him being granted bail.
Mr Niall Dolan, solicitor for Mr da Silva, made a bail application. Det Sgt Angela Willis from the National Emigration Bureau said Mr da Silva had no permission to be in the State.
He was here on a valid work permit on February 12th, 2003, and it expired on February 11th, 2004.
In that time he failed to register with the registration officer, whom the court heard is based in Bailieboro.
The witness said he had a valid permit but did not register.
Mr da Silva, replying to Mr Dolan through an interpreter, said he worked in Liffey Meats. He had handed in photographs to get his permit extended. He was relying on his employer to renew the permit. He agreed to hand in his passport to the court if granted bail.
When Supt Sullivan asked if he had any evidence of what he was saying about the photographs, he said he had no evidence but he had handed in the photographs to the company.
He did not know if they were used. Mr Dolan then asked if he was told he would need the photographs. He said no.
Judge Cormac Dunne said that the court was satisfied that the grounds for objection by the State, having regard to the unlawful status of the accused, are sufficient to cause concern, that the accused may not turn up for trial. He then remanded the defendant in custody.
Gardaí gave evidence in relation to arresting Mr Cavalcante for a breach of the Emigration Act.
He replied after caution: "I want to say that the company brought me here and you would need to call them to ask them why this is going on". Det Sgt Willis said the defendant was unlawfully in the State and is here without permission since February 11th, 2004. Up until that date he was registered on the basis of a work permit that had expired.
Supt Sullivan said his application was to have the defendant remanded in custody. "We believe that this defendant does intend to leave the jurisdiction."
Judge Cormac Dunne also remanded him in custody.
Both defendants were granted free legal aid and an interpreter was assigned.