A MAN charged with possessing drugs worth more than half a million euro for sale or supply is currently renting a riverside apartment in County Limerick for €2,500 a month despite having no legitimate source of income, a court was told.
Martin Murrihy (37), of Riverfront Apartments, The Square, Annacotty, County Limerick, appeared before Limerick District Court charged with two counts of possession of cocaine and cannabis with a combined total street value of €610,000 for sale/supply and two counts of simple possession of the drugs.
Garda Daniel Dillon, Limerick Garda Divisional Drugs Unit, gave evidence in court of arresting and charging Mr Murrihy after the drugs were allegedly seized by Gardaí at the accused’s address on Wednesday April 29.
Garda Dillon said Mr Murrihy “made no reply” to all four charges.
Citing Section 2 of the Bail Act as well as O’Callaghan Rules, Garda Dillon objected to an application by Mr Murrihy for bail, “based upon my belief that Martin Murrihy will continue to commit further serious offences and that, if committed to bail, he will fail to meet bail”.
Garda Dillon told the court Gardaí arrested Mr Murrihy “as part of investigations targeting the sale and supply of cannabis and cocaine in the southern region”.
Gardaí stopped and arrested Mr Murrihy, who at the time was driving a white 2002 Dublin-registered Citroen Berlingo van, at Annacotty.
“Mr Murrihy attempted to break his mobile phone in an attempt to destroy criminal evidence, and a struggle ensued with Gardaí,” Garda Dillon alleged in the bail hearing.
Nothing was found during a search of the van and when Gardaí explained to Mr Murrihy they had a search warrant for his apartment, he told them he had drugs stored there, the court heard.
“He accompanied Gardaí to the property and, on searching it, Gardaí recovered 23.5kilos of cannabis, valued at €470,000; and two kilos of cocaine, valued at €140,000; as well as 16,500 alprazolam tablets valued at €33,000 – a total estimated street value of €643,000,” Garda Dillon alleged.
“Gardaí also seized €3,900 cash, a vacuum packer, gloves, weighing scales, and individual deal wraps,” he added.
Mr Murrihy was interviewed by Gardaí on four occasions and “admitted facilitating an unnamed group by storing quantities of controlled drugs”, the Garda alleged.
Income
Garda Dillon gave uncontested evidence that Mr Murrihy was not in receipt of any social welfare, is currently unemployed, and “has no legitimate means or source of income”.
“Mr Murrihy is currently renting an apartment costing €2,500 per month, for which he has no means to pay for,” Garda Dillon continued.
“I believe that Martin Murrihy has been a critical individual for an organised crime group, in terms of transporting and storing quantities of controlled drugs,” he added.
“Martin Murrihy’s personal mobile phone indicates him as a key member in the sale and or supply of controlled drugs, and the movement of large quantities of cash for this organised crime group in the southern region,” Garda Dillon said.
Garda Dillon gave further uncontested evidence that, following Mr Murrihy’s arrest, he told Gardaí he was “addicted to cannabis”, that he was “under pressure” from unidentified individuals, and that he had amassed a €33,000 debt.
Garda Dillon said: “I am of the belief that there are persons at a significant financial loss due to the seizure of the substances for which Martin Murrihy is before the courts, and that he will be under duress to continue his involvement in criminal activity to accrue the losses of the person involved.”
He also stated: “I am of the opinion that Martin Murrihy is a flight risk as I believe, on certain evidence on his mobile phone, that he has come into possession of a large quantity of cash in recent weeks, and I believe the applicant will not abide by any bail conditions as set out by the court.”
Under cross-examination by Mr Murrihy’s solicitor, Sarah Ryan, Garda Dillon agreed Mr Murrihy provided his passport to Gardaí following his arrest, before it had been requested.
Garda Dillon also agreed Mr Murrihy told him that he was “under pressure” by unnamed individuals.
Judge Patricia Harney said Mr Murrihy was before the court “presumed innocent until proven guilty”.
The judge said she was satisfied to refuse bail and remanded Mr Murrihy to appear before Limerick District Court again for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on May 5.