A man appeared before a special sitting of Kells District Court last night charged with possession of amphetamines and cocaine worth an estimated £8 million. The court was told that in reply to the charges, Mr Paul David Kenny (32), Ashbourne Road, Duleek, Co Meath, had said: "guilty, they are going out of the country".
Det Garda Patricia McGarritty, National Drugs Unit, said she arrested the defendant at 5.15 p.m. yesterday at Kells Garda station and charged him as set out on two charge sheets before the court. After caution, in reply to the first charge of possession of the drugs at Moyvalley, Co Kildare, on the November 7th, 1997, he had replied "guilty".
On the second charge of possession of the drugs for the purpose of selling or supply, after being cautioned by the garda, he replied: "guilty, it was going out of the country". Mr Jimmy Walsh, defending, said he was applying for bail.
Det Garda McGarritty objected and told Judge John Brophy there were four reasons for objecting: the seriousness of the charges; he was caught "redhanded"; the likely possibility of a lengthy sentence on conviction and at this point she did not believe he would turn up for trial.
Mr Walsh said the defendant had fully co-operated with the Garda. He was separated and has weekend access to his children from his marriage. He was living in Duleek with his girlfriend who was expecting a baby and has had only casual employment over the last year.
Judge Brophy refused bail because of the amount of drugs involved which had an estimated value of £8 million. In the event of an application for bail being made to the High Court he ordered that 48 hours notice be given to Garda Chief Supt Kevin Carty of the National Drugs Unit.
He remanded the defendant in custody to appear again before Kells District Court on Thursday.