Tralee men charged with record crystal meth seizure face trial at Special Criminal Court

Judge said he believed there was no provision for sending forward to that court under a signed plea

Nathan McDonnell, left, and James Leen will appear before Tralee District Court on Tuesday.

Two Kerry men charged with the State's biggest seizure of the drug methylamphetamine — known as crystal meth — are to be tried in the non-jury Special Criminal Court, the District Court in Killarney heard on Monday morning.

One of the accused, Tralee businessman Nathan McDonnell, “has grasped the nettle”, his solicitor Padraig O’Connell told the court.