Passenger accused of having €1m worth of cocaine at Cork Airport remanded in custody

He is to be remanded in custody for four weeks to allow time for forensic analysis of the stash

It was alleged during the bail objection that 10 bricks of cocaine with a street value of over €1 million were located in his suitcase when he was intercepted and detained at Cork Airport on Monday.

The flight passenger who was allegedly caught at Cork Airport with over €1 million worth of cocaine in his baggage consented on Wednesday to be remanded in custody for four weeks to allow time for forensic analysis of the stash.

39-year-old Patrick Cahill of Delhurst Lane, Blanchardstown, Dublin, was remanded in custody last week with consent to bail and now Judge Waters has remanded him in custody on similar terms. 

Defence barrister Mahon Corkery asked the accused by video link from Cork District Court to prison if he would consent to the four-week remand. He could only be remanded in custody for a fortnight without his consent. Mr Cahill said he had no problem with the remand until October 7.

Detective Garda Patrick O’Sullivan formally arrested 39-year-old Patrick Cahill of Delhurst Lane, Blanchardstown, Dublin, at Togher garda station at 10.45pm on Tuesday night, September 1, and charged him with possession of the cocaine at Cork Airport at lunchtime on Monday, August 31, and having the drug for sale or supply to others.

The accused man was brought before Cork District Court on Wednesday where Sergeant Gearóid Davis said there was an objection to bail being granted to the accused because of the seriousness of the case. Diane Hallahan, solicitor, was appointed to represent the accused on free legal aid and she applied for him to be released on bail.

Judge David Waters said the allegations in the case, including the valuation of the suspected drugs, were too serious for bail to be granted without substantial independent sureties and cash lodgements.

Judge Waters remanded Patrick Cahill in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €900 with €300 cash to be lodged and two independent sureties of €15,000, with €5,000 cash to be lodged in each case, and the sureties to be approved by the court. Patrick Cahill was remanded in custody with consent to that bail until September 9. 

Other conditions require him to surrender all travel documents and not to apply for substitutes, sign daily at Blanchardstown garda station and reside at the Blanchardstown address where he must keep a 9pm to 8am curfew.

It was alleged during the bail objection that 10 bricks of cocaine with a street value of over €1 million were located in his suitcase when he was intercepted and detained at Cork Airport on Monday.