This article is from page 4 of the 2006-07-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A 35-YEAR-OLD east Clare businessman, charged in connection with a major drugs seizure near O’Briensbridge on Friday, has been refused bail.
Father-of-five Thomas Lennon, of Killestry, Killaloe, is facing four charges in connection with a seizure of drugs by the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU), at 10am on Friday.
Mr Lennon, who works in the construction sector, is charged with possession of cannabis resin and ecstacy, at Ross, Killaloe.
He is also charged with possession of cannabis resin and ecstacy, for sale or supply.
As he made his second court appearance in relation to the charges yesterday (Monday), Inspector Tom Kennedy told Killaloe District Court that further charges may follow, pending direction from the DPP.
Inspector Kennedy opposed a bail application by the accused, because of what he described as the seriousness of the charges and the accused’s likelihood to flee.
He pointed out that the four charge sheets before the court represented drugs valued at €2 million in cannabis resin and €100,000 in ecstacy tablets, but that did not represent the full amount of the drugs seized.
Further analysis of the haul has yet to be carried out, and it may include cocaine, amphetamine and other drugs, which have not yet been identified.
“The State has a concern if Mr Lennon is admitted to bail, he will not answer the charges he is facing, because of the gravity of the situation he finds himself in,” he added.
Defending solicitor Ted McCarthy said that the issues mentioned by the State could be taken into account by the judge in setting bail, but that they need not be a bar.
“Mr Lennon has no previous convictions.
“He is a married man, with one young child and four children from a previous relationship.
“He is a businessman. All of these are indicators he had ties. He has no intention of fleeing,” said the solicitor.
He said his client had no history of breaching bail would surrender his passport.
Inspector Kennedy said the accused’s ties were not sufficient to satisfy the State that he would not leave the jurisdiction.
Detective Garda Tom Barber of the GNDU said it would be alleged that the accused was stopped driving a van, which contained 300kgs of cannabis resin, 10kgs of cocaine, 100,000 ecstacy tablets and 5kgs of amphetamine powder.
“It is alleged that at the scene, Mr Lennon made admissions as to his conduct,” he said.
Judge Joseph Mangan refused the bail application and remanded the accused in custody to appear before Ennis District Court next week.