Gardaí object to bail for Cork man caught 'red-handed' with heroin worth €150,000

Judge remanded accused in custody with consent to bail on his bond of €15,000, of which €10,000 is to be cash, which his solicitor said was 'tantamount to refusing bail'

Judge noted the drugs were allegedly found on accused's property and that in effect he was caught red-handed and that gardaí were concerned he had a significant debt owed.

A stash of heroin valued at more than €150,000 was at the centre of a case where there was an objection to bail being granted to a 46-year-old man “addicted to crack cocaine”. 

Michael Hegarty, of 13A Sunday School Lane, Blackpool, Cork, denied he ever said to Detective Garda Ronan McGuckin that he was addicted to crack cocaine. He said he was previously addicted to heroin but had not used the drug for six months and that he used to take cocaine.

Det Garda McGuckin objected to bail being granted to the accused.

Judge Mary Dorgan noted the drugs were allegedly found on his property and that in effect he was caught red-handed and that gardaí were concerned he had a significant debt owed.

“I am going to remand in custody with consent to bail on his bond of €15,000, of which €10,000 is to be cash, reside at home address, abstain from intoxicants, sign on every day at Gurranabraher between 9am and 9pm and observe a curfew between 11pm and 7am. 

"He is not to apply for a passport or travel documents. He is to attend Arbour House and produce evidence of his attendance.” 

The judge remanded him in custody with consent to that bail until October 28. Judge Dorgan said: “Evidence of the source of the bail money is to be produced to the guards if it is being taken up.” 

Solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said: “There is no way on God’s earth he can raise €10,000. No one in his family could come up with that money. €10,000 is tantamount to refusing bail.” 

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said the DPP directed trial by indictment on the charges. The most serious charge is of possession of heroin for sale or supply at a time when the street value exceeded €13,000 — a charge which can carry a 10-year minimum sentence on conviction. The charge relates to March 26 at his home address.