Family man 'could not be involved' in drug crime, court hears

The lawyer defending one of the men in Ireland’s biggest ever drugs case said today it was absurd to think that a brick-layer and family man from England could be involved in a drug crime on the scale that one would associate with the notorious Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar.

Blaise O’Carroll, senior counsel, said the prosecution alluded to the idea that the law did not like coincidences, but he said on behalf of Joseph Daly - aged 41, from 9 Carisbrook Avenue, Bexley, Kent - at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, “coincidences do happen.”

Mr O’Carroll said: “If what he says could reasonably be true, you must acquit. Whatever was going on, Joe Daly was unaware of it. He has given you his account and run the gauntlet of cross-examination. He has gotten in to the witness box and looked you straight in the eye to tell you he knew nothing about what was happening.”

During the trial, there was evidence that Joseph Daly brought a jeep and Rigid Inflatable Boat over on the Pembroke-Rosslare car ferry because his brother, Michael Daly, asked him to do so.

The jury of nine men and two women (one woman was released from jury service a fortnight ago) was told that Michael Daly has been in custody since May of this year on charges related to importing €200,000 worth of illegal drugs into the UK.

Mr O’Carroll referred to evidence from Daly’s sister and uncle which presented the accused as a very good person, “who was on the side of the angels rather than on the other side.”

He referred to the fact that, for instance, his company accounts were up to date with Revenue, and that everything about him was open and transparent in that sense.

“Do we have a situation where a decent human being is being exploited – exploited and used by someone who has a nefarious agenda of his own?” Mr O’Carroll asked.

Next in the trial, lawyers for Martin Wanden, aged 45, and Perry Wharrie, aged 48, of 60 Pryles Lane, Essex, England, will address the jury.

All of the accused deny possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply when its street value exceeded €13,000 on July 2, at Dunlough Bay, Mizen, Goleen, Co Cork.