Man accused of directing organised crime in Cork; two others face drug-dealing charges

The trial opened at Cork Circuit Criminal Court and was told of garda concerns about heroin dealing in Cork City, particularly around the Lee Fields and Fitzgerald’s Park

The court heard the Garda investigation commenced back in November 2023 because of heroin-dealing taking place around Cork City. File picture

Directing organised crime in Cork is the main charge against a 47-year-old man who was put on trial on Thursday before a judge and jury in Cork, where evidence will be given of surveillance operations and undercover gardaí making controlled purchases of heroin with particular notes.

Two other men face charges of dealing heroin and doing so for the benefit of, or under the direction of, an organised crime group.

The trial opened at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Dermot Sheehan and a jury of nine men and three women who were told of garda concerns about heroin dealing in Cork City, particularly around the Lee Fields and Fitzgerald’s Park.

47-year-old Pranas Motriuk of 13 Manor Grove, Thornbury View, Rochestown, Cork, is charged with directing and controlling the activities of a criminal organisation between November 10, 2023, and March 26, 2025.

He is charged with having cannabis and a benzodiazepine, namely Etizolam, for sale or supply at his home on March 25, 2025. He is also charged with money-laundering in relation to sums of €470 and €1,050 at North City Link Road on September 25, 2024, and at Kyrl’s Street on October 3, 2024, respectively.

46-year-old Jonas Pavilionis of no fixed address and 38-year-old Aleksandras Kuznecovas of no fixed address, are both charged with committing an offence of having drugs for sale or supply for the benefit of or under the direction of an organised crime group. Both men are also charged with different drug supply charges at locations around Cork City.

Finally, Mr Pavilionis is additionally charged with having a machete at Douglas shopping centre car park and two bill-hooks at Audley Place, St. Patrick’s Hill, Cork.

Case outline

Prosecution senior counsel Tom Creed gave an outline of the anticipated evidence, stressing that what he said was not itself evidence. He said the investigation commenced back in November 2023 because of heroin-dealing taking place around Cork City. 

“They had suspicions that certain persons were involved. They set up an investigation led by Detective Inspector Denis Lynch who put in place a surveillance operation. It was suspected by Det. Insp. Lynch that Mr Motriuk was involved… The prosecution says it believes that not alone was he involved in the criminal organisation but he was directing it, he was the man in charge,” Mr Creed said.

Mr Creed said a man not before the court was stabbed and that following this, Mr Pavilionis “appeared on the scene and one of Mr Pavilionis’s jobs was to protect the dealers — and that this was why the machete was found in the car. That is just me saying what I expect the evidence to be.” 

As well as surveillance, there were 21 controlled drug purchases made by undercover members of An Garda Síochána in the investigation, Mr Creed said.

Referring to one alleged incident that will form part of the trial, the prosecution senior counsel said: “Mr Motriuk was driving on the North City Link Road and he was stopped by members of An Garda Síochána and lo and behold, part of the monies he had were notes used by the undercover guard to purchase diamorphine (from another person).” 

All three men have pleaded not guilty to all of the various charges against them. The trial continues on May 1.