Portlaoise man faces charges over €8.1m drug haul found in Co Laois

Thomas Ryan (40), from Thurles, Co Tipperary, appeared unrepresented at Portlaoise District Court over €8.1m drug charges. He has been sent forward for trial in July.

Tipperary man sent forward for circuit court trial over multimillion-euro cocaine seizure

A 40-year-old man charged in connection with approximately €8.1 million worth of drugs found in Co Laois appeared without legal representation at last week's sitting of Portlaoise District Court, leinsterexpress.ie reports.

Thomas Ryan, of Abbott Court, Holycross, Thurles, Co Tipperary, told Judge Andrew Cody that his solicitor, Aonghus McCarthy, was not present due to the ongoing dispute over criminal legal aid payment reforms. "My solicitor Aonghus McCarthy is not here today over the issue of solicitors withdrawing their services," Ryan told the court.

The hearing was listed for the service of a book of evidence. Judge Cody noted that as a condition of his bail, Ryan had been remanded on his own bond of €100 alongside an independent surety of €5,000, with his mother, Margaret Ryan, approved as surety. She was required to be present in court to sign the bond.

Ryan told the judge his mother did not drive and requested the case be put back until later in the afternoon, allowing him time to travel to Tipperary to collect her. Judge Cody agreed, and when proceedings resumed, Garda Murray formally served the book of evidence on the defendant.

Ryan faces a charge under section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act relating to possession of more than €13,000 worth of cocaine on 25 October last year at Srah, Rathdowney. He is also charged under sections 3 and 15 of the same Act with possessing cocaine for personal use and for sale or supply at Kilnaseer, Rathdowney on 28 October last year.

Judge Cody noted that the total estimated value of the drugs allegedly found amounted to €8,120,000. He sent Ryan forward to the 28 July sitting of Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court, advising him that he must notify the prosecution within 14 days should he intend to rely on an alibi defence.

Free legal aid was granted, with one solicitor and two barristers assigned to the case.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)