A FORMER pilot, charged with possession of more than €10million worth of drugs, has international criminal connections, Gardaí alleged in court.
Brendan O’Meara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, County Clare, was refused bail before a special sitting of Ennis District Court.
Garda Sergeant Rob Sheehy, Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit, alleged before Judge Marie Keane during a contested bail hearing that the accused “has international criminal connections regarding the supply of controlled drugs”.
Mr O’Meara faces two charges, possessing cannabis for sale or supply and possessing cannabis on May 7.
Gardaí told the court Mr O’Meara made no reply to the charges, and that “further, and more serious charges” may be brought against him in respect of the case.
The accused did not enter a plea in court.
Gardaí alleged that Mr O’Meara made certain “admissions” while in custody following his arrest on May 7.
Mr O’Meara recently handed in his notice to Ryanair, it was heard. He had been intending on moving to the United States to care for his brother who suffers with Parkinson’s disease.
Sergeant Sheehy said he considered the former pilot a “flight risk”, and that, if granted bail, the accused would “attempt to leave the country” and not appear for trial.
Gardaí seized pallets of cannabis with a street value of more than €10m at Mr O’Meara’s home last Wednesday (May 7).
Outlining the alleged facts, Sergeant Sheehy said Gardaí received confidential information in respect of a pallet delivery at Mr O’Meara’s home address.
During a warranted search, they seized “an estimated 502kg of cannabis worth in excess of €10m”.
Sergeant Sheehy said he was objecting to bail because of the “strength and nature of the evidence” as well as the high value of the drugs.
He alleged Gardaí had obtained evidence to support their case, including CCTV footage of Mr O’Meara at a “courier depot” on May 6, a day before Gardaí allege the cannabis haul was delivered to his home; as well as phone records showing alleged “conversations in respect of the supply of drugs through Europe”.
Sergeant Sheehy told the court the Garda investigation was in its “infancy”, but Gardaí believe “it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established”.
He claimed Mr O’Meara was also a flight risk, due to his “aeronautical knowledge”, that he has a number of pilots licenses, and has links to the USA.
“He has a Green Card and he is in the process of moving his life to the USA, Columbus Ohio, and he has handed in his notice to his job,” Sergeant Sheehy said.
Applying for bail, Mr O’Meara’s solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said the accused has “three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence, and a EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence”, and he would hand over his licences to the state and not leave the country.
“His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,” Ms Godfrey said.
Ms Godfrey said Mr O’Meara was also in receipt of an “Italian residency card”, which he would also hand over, along with his US Green Card.
She said a sister of Mr O’Meara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000.
Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody, Ms Godfrey said Mr O’Meara “has offered up all the means he could to leave this country”.
Judge Keane noted that Mr O’Meara “maintains his presumption of innocence”, but said she was satisfied Gardaí had “a credible case” in respect of their concerns about the accused being a flight risk.
Judge Keane described the amount of drugs seized as “enormous”.
“The seriousness of the alleged offence overrides everything else. There is also the nature and strength of the evidence and his (alleged) admissions while in custody,” said Judge Keane.
She remanded Mr O’Meara in custody to appear before Ennis District Court for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on May 14.
