Four in court over €107m cocaine seizure

TIGHT security was the order of the day at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday for the first appearance of four men arrested in the wake of the biggest drugs seizure in the history of the State, which was valued at €107 million.

The four men are charged with possessing cocaine and possessing cocaine with the intent to sell or supply on July 2, at Dunlough Bay, Mizen, Goleen, Co Cork.

Speaking in courtroom two of the Washington Street courthouse, prosecution senior counsel Tom Creed said it would be a long trial with about 150 witnesses. Mr Creed said that the case was not yet ready to go to trial.

He applied for witness orders, a preliminary procedural application that must be made in advance of a trial taking place.

The four accused are Perry Wharrie, 47, of 60 Pryles Lane, Essex, England; Gerard Hagan, 23, from 85 Hollow Croft, Liverpool; Joseph Daly, 40, from 9 Carisbrook Avenue, Bexley, Kent; and Martin Wanden, 44, who is also English but has no fixed abode. All four were represented by lawyers on free legal aid yesterday.

Each defendant has a solicitor, barrister and senior counsel representing him.

Judge Patrick J Moran said he was anxious to clarify when the case would get a date for hearing.

“I will put it back for mention on November 15. A decision will have to be made in the interests of the efficient administration of the system.”

The four defendants are charged with possessing cocaine estimated by gardaí to have a net value of €107m.

None of the four men objected to the case being put back for a fortnight for mention again at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.