A FORMER Ryanair pilot, charged with having more than €10million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at his home, located on the outskirts of Limerick, was granted bail after the Court of Appeal overturned a previous High Court refusal.
The man was previously described in court as a “flight risk”.
Brendan O’Mara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, County Clare, is charged with one count of possessing the large cannabis haul, to sell or supply to others, on May 7, 2025.
Bail was granted by Mr Justice John Edwards on condition the accused provide a €70,00 bail bond and that the court receive an independent bail surety of €150,000, of which €35,000 is to be lodged.
Mr O’Mara also gave an undertaking to surrender any pilot licenses he has, and not leave the country.
The accused, who the court heard worked for Ryanair until recently, also agreed to surrender all travel documentation and not apply for new ones, and to provide his mobile phone number to Gardaí so he can be contacted by the authorities at all times.
Mr O’Mara also agreed to not attend any airfields and reside only at his family residence in Meelick. He also gave an undertaking that he would not apply for any work in the aviation industry, and that he would keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Last month, he had been refused bail at the High Court, despite a family member offering €155,000 independent surety.
Gardaí objected to bail citing the alleged strength and nature of the evidence against O’Mara, the amount of drugs involved, and allegations that he has “international criminal connections regarding the supply of controlled drugs”.
Detective Garda Adrian Cahill of the Divisional Drugs Unit at Henry Street Garda Station told the High Court in July that O’Mara is also a qualified chartered accountant and holds a degree in law.
The Garda told the court O’Mara began flying for Ryanair in 2012 but resigned from the airline on April 24, 2025, giving three months’ notice.
The detective also said O’ Mara and his family planned to leave Ireland and move to the United States after Mr O Mara, his wife, and two children, were approved for green cards in late 2024.
O’Mara travelled to the US in January to complete US flight training before he was offered a job flying for a private aviation company in Columbus, Ohio, the court heard.
He was due to start this job on July 21, but he was arrested last May and held in custody for the drugs offence.
“Brendan O’Mara is a man of considerable wealth who owns a number of properties. His home where this seizure was made is mortgage free,” Detective Garda Cahill told the court.
It was heard that a warrant to arrest Mr O’Mara and search his home was executed on May 7, 2025.
Gardaí and Customs officers discovered two wrapped pallets in the driveway of O’Mara’s home in Meelick, allegedly containing the €10m cannabis haul.
O’Mara has been interviewed in Garda custody a total of seven times following his arrest last May.
Garda Sergeant Rob Sheehy, Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit, alleged in court in Ennis in May that Mr O’Mara has “international criminal connections regarding the supply of controlled drugs”.
The courts have heard that O’Mara had planned to move to the United States to care for his brother, who suffers with Parkinson’s disease.
Sergeant Sheehy claimed the ongoing drugs investigation “stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established”.
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.
“He enjoys the presumption of innocence,” Ms Godfrey added.
