Lorry driver stopped with €1.1m of cannabis told gardaí 'I’ll smoke it tomorrow', court hears

'I’ll smoke it tomorrow', a lorry driver stopped at Dublin Port and allegedly found transporting more than €1m worth of cannabis told investigating gardaí, a court has heard. File photo

“I’ll smoke it tomorrow”, a lorry driver stopped at Dublin Port and allegedly found transporting more than €1m worth of cannabis told investigating gardaí, a court has heard.

Andrew Cooley, aged 32, from Ballyoran, Dundalk, Co Louth, was arrested at 1.45 am on Saturday driving a truck which had arrived on a boat from Holyhead.

The father of two was charged with unlawful possession of 55.4 kg of cannabis with an estimated value of €1,108,000 and having it for the purpose of sale or supply. He appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday where Garda Dylan Mallon objected to bail due to flight risk concerns.

The garda alleged the truck was stopped, and a customs officer engaged with Mr Cooley and smelled cannabis coming from the 2011-reg white Scania. Searching the cab allegedly led to black bags on the bunk covered by clothes.

The contested bail hearing was told that there were 31 black packages alleged to have contained cannabis, and the accused had been living in the cab of his truck.

Gardai were called, and Mr Cooley was taken to Store Street station and interviewed several times. It was alleged he admitted ownership and told gardaí, “I’ll smoke it tomorrow”.

Bail hearing

The garda feared the accused would evade justice because he had travelled to Europe multiple times as a driver, and his work was transferable.

However, defence solicitor Luke Staines said information from his client’s employer showed Mr Cooley had never gone to continental Europe and had only travelled in Ireland and England.

The defence stressed that Mr Cooley had ties to Ireland, had children here, and there was nothing to suggest he would leave the jurisdiction.

Mr Staines emphasised that his client could face two years on remand until his trial. The solicitor told the court the driver would obey conditions and furnish a satisfactory address. 

Judge Finan said he had not given a satisfactory address as she reserved ruling on the bail application, which was adjourned until Friday, with Mr Cooley being held in custody in the meantime. Legal aid was granted.