Cocaine trial jury deliberates

Jurors who have spent the summer listening to over 300 witnesses in the €440m cocaine trial brought their overnight bags to Cork Circuit Criminal Court today.

They were sent out at 10.57am this morning to commence their deliberations on whether the three accused men are guilty or not guilty of the charges they face in the biggest drugs trial in the history of the State.

Joseph Daly of Carisbrook Avenue, Bexley, Kent, England, Perry Wharrie, 48, of Pryles Lane, Essex, England, and Martin Wanden, 45, who is also English but has no fixed abode, all deny charges including possession of cocaine for sale or supply with a street value in excess of €13,000 on July 2, at Dunlough Bay, Mizen, Goleen, Co Cork.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin has addressed the jury a number of times and he concluded his address to them today.

He said they had to reach a decision on each of the three accused and on each of the three charges. Furthermore he told them that their decision had to be unanimous.

The judge told them they could have as long as they needed to reach their verdicts.

“The State have said they have proved an overall general organising of possessing drugs in the State and they have proved a joint enterprise in that possession for sale or supply.

“They are relying on somewhat different facts to show the involvement of each of the accused.

“Whether the accused or any of them are involved is a matter for you. You are the only judges of the facts,” he said.

The jury consists of nine men and two women - one woman was released from the jury earlier this month.