Tralee men charged with record crystal meth seizure sent forward for trial at Special Criminal Court
Nathan McDonnell, left, and James Leen were each served with a book of evidence at Tralee District Court on Tuesday.
Two Tralee men, including one of the town’s most high profile businessmen, have been sent forward to a sitting of the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to drugs and organised crime.
The charges relate to the biggest seizure last February of crystal meth in the history of the State.
The four drugs charges were non-scheduled offences, however, the Director of Public Prosecutions believed the ordinary courts could not deal with these charges and “were inadequate to secure justice”, Diane Reidy, State solicitor for the DPP told Tralee District Court.
Both men appeared in person in Tralee.
Businessman Nathan McDonnell, 44, of Ballyroe, Tralee, is charged with having knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by that organisation to wit the importation, sale and supply of controlled drugs between October 16, 2023 and February 16, 2024.
Co-accused James Leen, aged 41, of Kilmorna, Listowel, is charged with being a director of a criminal organisation between February 7, 2023, and February 16, 2024.
In addition, each man is accused of four charges under the Misuse of Drugs Acts — of importation of the drug methylamphetamine, known as crystal meth, at Cork Port on October 16, 2023, along with possession and possession of the drug for sale or supply at Ballyseedy Garden Centre, Tralee, between October 27 and February 12, 2024.
Minor amendments were made to three of the charge sheets with regard to the dates at the outset and there was no objection.
Both men appeared separately, where the large volume of the book of evidence containing over 1,000 pages was served on them by investigating gardaí.
James Leen appeared first. Diane Reidy, State solicitor for the DPP, applied for minor amendments and these were consented to by his solicitor Patrick Mann. The book was served by Detective Sergeant Dave Howard.
Referring to the allegation against Mr Leen, of directing the activities of a criminal organisation, Ms Reidy told the court she was applying to have him sent forward to a sitting of a Special Criminal Court on this charge.
On the four non-scheduled charges under the Drugs Acts, the DPP had certified the ordinary courts would be inadequate to secure justice, Ms Reidy said. She was applying for the trial to be sent forward to a sitting of the Special Criminal Court on these four charges.
Mr Leen was “vehemently opposing” to being returned to the Special Criminal Court on the drugs charges and did not accept the ordinary courts were inadequate to deal with these, Mr Mann, his solicitor said.
He was therefore reserving the right to appeal this, Mr Mann added.
Judge David Waters, noting the State’s application that the ordinary courts would be insufficient to deal with the other charges, sent Mr Leen forward on all five charges.
Shortly afterwards businessman Mr McDonnell was led into court. The book of evidence was served by investigating garda, Detective Sergeant Tommy Griffin.
An application was made by Ms Reidy to send Mr McDonnell forward to a sitting of a Special Criminal Court on all five charges.
After consultation with his client, Padraig O’Connell, solicitor, said he had no objection.
However, it was very important it be put on record for the three judges of the Special Criminal Court what he had indicated in court on Monday in Killarney on behalf of his client, namely that his client was entering a plea.
Handing in a statement of means to Judge Waters, Mr O’Connell said he was applying for legal aid.
“He’s not a man of means,” Mr O’Connell said of Mr McDonnell, adding the State had no objection to the application for legal aid.
However, Judge Waters said he did have an objection and he would need evidence to support the legal aid application.
Sworn and “unchallenged” evidence had been given that this man was a director of 19 companies which had gone into some form of liquidation in February and he would need to see if he had benefited from the proceeds, Judge Waters said.
He would want to see if Mr McDonnell benefited from that or from other business matters, the judge said, and he was not in a position to deal with an application on legal aid give what was outlined previously in regard to his business interests, the judge told the solicitor.
An application could be made at the Special Criminal Court, the judge added. However, Mr O’Connell told the judge he was wrong and his client made several appearances and was now at a disadvantage.
There was heavy security surrounding Ashe Street and the courthouse in Tralee for the arrival and departure of the two men. Mr Leen was returned to Cork Prison and Mr McDonnell to Portlaoise.
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