Three of the four accused in €7m cocaine haul granted bail
Dean Chambers was granted bail at a sitting of Gorey District Court last week. When the case was called on Monday, Judge Cheatle was told that independent sureties for the accused had been accepted by Gardaí. File Picture: Colin Keegan
Three of the four men charged in connection with a €7m cocaine seizure in Co Wexford have been granted bail.
The four accused appeared before Judge John Cheatle at Wexford District Court on Monday in relation to a €7m cocaine seizure that formed part of a massive international multi-agency investigation.
The four were charged with possession of a controlled drug, suspected to be cocaine, under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and possession of drugs for sale and supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Dean Chambers, aged 47, with an address at The Lodge, Whitepark, Arklow, Co Wicklow; Karl Dowling, aged 52, from Birch Park, Ferrybank, Waterford City; Patrick Kinsella, aged 52, from Ballyougher, Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford; and Wojceich Kuzio, aged 31, from Main St, Arklow, Co Wicklow, were all charged in connection with the incident.
At a sitting of Gorey District Court last week, Mr Chambers and Mr Dowling were granted bail in their own cash bond of €10,000, with two independent sureties of €10,000 each. They were also requested to sign on at their local garda station each day, hand over their passports, and have no contact with the other accused.
Mr Kinsella was granted bail in his own cash bond of €6,000, told to hand over his passport, and not make any contact with the other accused. He was also ordered to have his mobile phone available for gardaí to make contact throughout each day.
Mr Kuzio at the time made no application for bail.
When the case was called on Monday, solicitors Lana Doherty and Ed King told Judge Cheatle that independent sureties for the accused had been accepted by the gardaí.
Ms Doherty said the two independent sureties were happy to go as surety for Mr Chambers. They had shown their back accounts, are happy that their account would not go below €10,000 which would be frozen at that stage.
In relation to Karl Dowling, she said his sister and brother were accepted as independent sureties and had been approved by the State.
Judge Cheatle accepted the application for bail and remanded both accused on bail to Wexford District Court on December 16.
Ms Doherty further added that in relation to Mr Kinsella, his wife has been accepted by gardaí as independent surety. She said that in relation to his own cash bond, that was contingent on the farm land being signed over from his father, which was in process at present, and she could provide the folio number to the court.
However, Judge Cheatle said he would adjourn the application to October 1, to show the land transaction had been completed. He remanded the accused in custody to that date.
An application for Polish national Mr Kuzio was made by Mr King.
However, gardaí objected to the granting of bail, stating they believed he was a risk of reoffending, while also given the nature and seriousness of the offence. They also feared he could leave the country.
However, Mr King said he had been living in Ireland since 2006 and was in gainful employment. For the last number of years he has been employed as a mechanic for Chambers Haulage company. When interviewed, he was told that he was being brought to a breakdown. He had no previous convictions, is one of five brothers and has two children, with two of his brothers living in Ireland.
Judge Cheatle said he would grant bail, with a €10,000 cash bond to be handed over in court, and also two independent sureties which have been approved by gardaí. He was also ordered to sign on daily at his local garda station, hand over his passport, and not make contact with any of the other accused.
He was remanded on bail to appear before Wexford District Court on December 16.
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