Solicitors for three Britons charged with importing £15 million worth of cannabis resin into the Republic said yesterday they hope to obtain a date for a judicial review of the State's handling of the case within a month.
Mr George Preece (49), Mr Barry Court (52) and Mr Matthew Paul Simpkins (32) are facing charges of importing £15 million worth of cannabis resin and possessing the drug for sale or supply in Irish territorial waters last November.
But solicitors for the three men have obtained leave from Mr Justice Lavan in the High Court to seek a judicial review against the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. They are seeking the review after the State entered a nolle pro-sequi in respect of similar charges at Cork Circuit Criminal Court last month, when it emerged that the State had failed to include a certificate from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The certificate from the Minister is a required proof under the Maritime Jurisdiction Act of 1959 in cases where the State takes proceedings against aliens for offences alleged to have happened in Irish territorial waters. All three defendants were released from custody on the order of Judge A.G. Murphy at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on May 16th, but they were rearrested minutes later and brought to Clonakilty District Court where new charges were preferred.
Solicitors for the defendants - with addresses in London and Cadiz, Spain - told Judge James O'Connor at Bandon District Court yesterday they hoped to obtain a date for the judicial review within a month.
Judge O'Connor remanded all three in continuing custody until June 16th, when they are due to appear again at Bandon District Court.