Jury sent away

THE jury at the €440 million cocaine trial in Cork has been sent away for legal argument in their absence.

The nine men and three women were told by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin yesterday to return to Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Monday for what will be the commencement of the sixth week of the trial. Legal argument in their absence went on throughout yesterday.

Englishmen Perry Wharrie, 48, of 60 Pyrles Lane, Essex; Martin Wanden, 45, of no fixed abode; and Joseph Daly, 41, from 9 Carrisbrook Avenue, Bexley, Kent, all deny the charges of possessing cocaine, possessing it with intent to sell or supply, and having it for sale or supply when its street value exceeded €13,000 on July 2, 2007, at Dunlough Bay, Co Cork.