Accused told farmer not to call lifeguard, court hears

The man who emerged from the sea in West Cork on the morning that €440m worth of cocaine was found floating in choppy waters was given assistance at a local farmhouse and told the farmer there was no need to alert the rescue services - a judge and jury was told today.

Farmer Michael O’Donovan, of Carrigeengour, Goleen, Co Cork, was giving evidence at Ireland’s biggest ever drugs trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.