Man (56) remanded on bail over €35,000 heroin seizure

A man arrested by gardaí after a sniffer dog indicated towards him as he got off the Dublin-Cork train has been remanded on bail after he was charged in connection with a €35,000 drugs seizure.

Paul Marken (56) was arrested by members of the Cork City Divisional Drugs Squad at Kent railway station.

Mr Marken was subsequently brought before a special sitting of Skibbereen District Court where he was charged with two counts in relation to the seizure of heroin with a street value of €35,000.

Mr Marken of Hazelwood House, Canal Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, was charged with possession of heroin and possession of heroin for sale or supply at Mayfield Garda station in Cork on August 27th.

Det Garda Paul Leahy gave evidence of his arrest, charge and caution, and told the court that Mr Marken replied "sorry" when both charges were put to him following caution outside Mayfield Garda station.

Insp Ian O’Callaghan said that gardaí had no objection to bail for Mr Marken provided he was willing to abide by a number of bail conditions sought by members of the Cork City Divisional Drugs Squad.

Conditions

Det Garda Leahy told the special court sitting that gardaí were seeking for Mr Marken to reside at his stated address in Ranelagh and sign on every Monday and Thursday at Rathmines Garda station.

He said gardaí were also seeking for Mr Marken to stay out of Cork city and county, except for court appearances, and to provide gardaí with a mobile number on which they could contact him 24/7.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said he had discussed the bail conditions with his client, who is a wheelchair user, and Mr Marken was willing to abide by all four conditions sought by gardaí.

Judge Colm Roberts noted that Mr Marken was willing to abide by the bail terms and he remanded him on his own bond of €250 to appear again at Cork District Court on November 17th.

The judge also granted Mr Marken free legal aid, after hearing he was in receipt of disability allowance, and appointed Mr Burke to represent him at all future hearings related to the charges.