Man in massive drugs case denies any knowledge of deal

One of the men on trial in the biggest drugs case in the history of the State had no inkling that drugs were being imported until he saw white packets floating in the sea on the morning in question.

Joseph Daly (aged 41), testified today, “I had no knowledge whatsoever of any drugs whatsoever at any stage until I saw them that morning as I was standing at the cliff edge.”

Asked about his arrest two days later, he said: “My head was in bits. From the time I saw them white packages it just changed my life.”

Daly, from 9 Carisbrook Avenue, Bexley, Kent, told the jury yesterday that he drove a blue jeep pulling a Rigid Inflatable Boat from Pembroke to Rosslare at the request of his brother, Michael Daly. He said a friend of Michael’s, called Martin, travelled with him as far as Rosslare.

He said he stayed around the area and spent some time with his father and a number of men who were also friends of his brother.

Then in the early hours of July 2 – the day that €440m was retrieved at Dunlough Bay – he said he woke in the house at Farnamanagh to the sound of loud banging at the back door.

“There was this guy Alex there, and someone I did not know at time, Perry Wharrie. Alex said to me, Michael, my brother had been in contact and was in trouble at sea. I said, what is he doing at sea?” Daly said.

He said they then drove to Crookhaven where he met a number of men looking at maps and that he and Perry Wharrie went to see if they could be of any assistance. He said they knew at this point that the emergency services and the coastguard had been called.

“I am getting in a bit of a panic, I said we’ll have to go up there… We got to the brow of the hill and saw a boat sticking out of the water. I am trying to shout. As I am shouting I slipped over and cracked my head and my ribs on a rock.

“Perry is in front of me. He tells the coastguard there is someone in the water needs saving. We saw dozens of white packages. I said, what does that look like to you? He said, it doesn’t look good, or something to that effect. Perry said we better get out of here.

Daly of 9 Carisbrook Avenue, Bexley, Kent, and his co- Perry Wharrie (aged 48), of 60 Pryles Lane, Essex, England, and Martin Wanden (aged 45), who is also English but has no fixed abode all deny charges including possession of cocaine for sale or supply when its street value exceeded €13,000 on July 2, at Dunlough Bay, Mizen, Goleen, Co Cork.

The trial continues at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin and a jury.