DNA on dental floss used in €440m-cocaine case

DNA evidence from a dental floss stick found in a jeep allegedly connected to the €440m-cocaine seizure was matched today with one of the accused who is on trial.

Three Englishmen, Perry Wharrie (aged 48), of 60 Pyrles Lane, Essex, England, Martin Wanden (aged 45), of no fixed abode, and Joseph Daly (aged 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, Mizen, Goleen, Co Cork.

Dr Geraldine O’Donnell, forensic scientist, testified that a dental floss stick found in one of the jeeps that formed part of the investigation was examined and compared with the DNA of each of the three defendants on trial. She matched the floss stick with the DNA of Perry Wharrie.

She said the chances of this DNA being matched to an unrelated person were 1 in 1,000 million, and the chances of being matched to a relative such as a brother were 1 in 10,000.

Also at Cork Circuit Criminal Court today Detective Sergeant Colm Noonan testified in relation to about texts received by a particular phone registered by Vodafone to Steven Witsey, after being purchased in a phone shop in Bantry on January 16 2007.

The State alleges that Martin Wandon used the alias, Steven Witsey.

He testified that seven calls were made from a Satellite phone found in a Pele box (dry box) in the water at Dunlough Bay on July 2 2007 to the Witsey phone.

He referred to another Satellite phone – tracked by its call traffic – across the Atlantic in June last year.

He said that between April 28 2007 and July 2 2007 there were 11 calls from the Atlantic phone to the Pele box phone. In total the Atlantic phone made or received a total of 110 calls between those dates.

Det. Sgt Noonan also testified about the level of phone traffic on the day the cocaine was discovered floating in Dunlough Bay, July 2, stating that there were six calls from the Pele box phone and 34 calls to the Witsey phone. After that time the Witsey phone ceased to be active.