Court told of €800,000 cocaine haul

A 32-year-old man was charged in Swords District Court yesterday in connection with the seizure of €800,000 worth of cocaine …

A 32-year-old man was charged in Swords District Court yesterday in connection with the seizure of €800,000 worth of cocaine and €1 million in cash in north Dublin.

John Doyle, The Grove, Barons Hall, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was arrested last Friday as part of a major anti-drugs operation.

Det Garda Alan O'Connor, from the National Drugs Unit, told the court he charged Mr Doyle with possession and possession with intent to supply under the Misuse of Drugs Act at 6.10pm on Sunday. He replied: "No" after caution. He applied for Mr Doyle to be remanded in custody on the basis that he had been found with drugs worth €800,000 and a large quantity of cash worth almost €1 million.

Garda O'Connor told Judge Cormac Dunne that Mr Doyle had three different names.

READ MORE

"The name on his passport (Patrick Doyle) is different to the name on his driving licence," he said.

He added that John Doyle was the correct name. Mr Doyle's defence solicitor said she would not be making an application for bail but wished to make an application for legal aid.

Judge Dunne asked how Mr Doyle could be looking for legal aid when he had access to cash.

Mr Doyle replied: "They [the gardaí] took everything. I've got nothing. They took a million pounds, so what have I got," he said.

Judge Dunne said he was described as a plasterer but Mr Doyle said he was not working and added that he did not own any property.

Judge Dunne said it was his view that the statement of means for Mr Doyle was wholly inadequate.

The judge said that while he was not refusing legal aid, he was deferring it to a later hearing.

He remanded Mr Doyle in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court at 10.30am next Monday.