Cannabis seizure case adjourned

The trial of three Englishmen charged with possessing cannabis for supply following the seizure of £15 million worth of the drug…

The trial of three Englishmen charged with possessing cannabis for supply following the seizure of £15 million worth of the drug on board a trawler off west Cork has been adjourned until today following a problem in the prosecution case.

Judge A.G. Murphy told the jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that a difficulty had arisen with the prosecution case against Mr Richard George Preece (49), Mr Barry Court (52) and Mr Matthew Paul Simpkins (32).

Following legal discussions in the absence of the jury during which Mr John Edwards SC, prosecuting, addressed the bench, Judge Murphy adjourned the case against all three until today.

Mr Preece, of Widdenham, London; Mr Court, of La Linea, Spain; and Mr Simpkins, of La Linea, deny all the charges.