A FORMER Ryanair pilot, charged with having more than €10million worth of cannabis for sale or supply, was refused bail at the High Court, despite a family member offering €177,000 bail money.
Brendan O’Mara (62), An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, County Clare, was previously refused bail before a special sitting of Ennis District Court when he was first charged with the drugs offence on May 10 last.
Gardaí previously alleged that Mr O’Mara has “international criminal connections regarding the supply of controlled drugs”.
He was remanded in continuing custody this Wednesday (July 23) for two weeks pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mr O’Mara is accused of one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at his home address on May 7, 2025, as well as one count of possessing cannabis on the same date.
O’Mara was working for Ryanair as a pilot prior to the drug seizure. However the court previously heard that he had been intending on moving to the United States to care for his brother who suffers with Parkinson’s disease.
Gardaí and Customs officers discovered pallets at O’Mara’s home in Meelick, allegedly containing cannabis weighing an estimated 502kg, with a street value of over €10m.
Gardaí told the court in May that O’Mara represents a “flight risk” if granted bail. The court heard O’Mara has a number of pilot licenses and has links to the USA.
O’Mara’s solicitor, Tara Godfrey, told the court in May the accused has “three pilots licences, including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence, and a EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence”, which he would “hand over” to the State and pledge not leave the country.
Ms Godfrey said O’Mara was also in receipt of an “Italian residency card” and he would also “hand over”, along with his US Green Card.
Ms Godfrey said previously in Ennis court that a sister of Mr O’Mara pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000.
“He enjoys the presumption of innocence,” Ms Godfrey added.
The accused is to appear before the court again in two weeks for directions from the DPP.
