The Director of Public Prosecutions has this morning received the garda file arising from a huge investigation into an alleged drug import conspiracy off the Kerry coast.
Seven men face charges arising from the investigation, into an alleged conspiracy to import a large quantity of drugs into Ireland.
The men were arrested in Kerry and Clare in January, and all have been in custody since their arrests.
Four of the men are charged with conspiring with each other to import drugs worth more than €13,000 into Ireland.
They are 31-year-old Ryan Watson, 40-year-old Gary Monks (both from Glasgow), 30-year-old Conor Costello of Madam’s Bank Road, Derry, and 45-year-old Miljan Koprivica of Bollin Drive, Manchester; all of these men are in custody in Portlaoise Prison.
The other three co-accused are Filipino nationals 29-year-old Feljon Lao, 36-year-old Hanz Pangahin, and 43-year-old Christopher Ampo, and they also face charges of conspiring to import drugs worth more than €13,000, while these three men are all being held in Cork Prison on remand.
The defendants in Portlaoise Prison appeared first, and Sergeant Chris Manton asked that they be remanded in custody for another two weeks.
Solicitors Brendan Ahern and Pat Mann said their positions are the same, that the delay in dealing with the case means it should be progressed or struck out; Mr Mann said his client Mr Koprivica had been deprived of his liberty for a long, long time.
Judge David Waters said it was again premature to strike the cases out because of the delay, because of the seriousness of the charges, and that the men can make applications to the High Court for bail.
Representing the three Filipino defendants, solicitor Pádraig O’Connell asked if the garda file on the accused is with the DPP, and Sergeant Manton replied that as of this morning, the file is with the Director.
Mr O’Connell said because of this progress, he consented to his clients being remanded for another two weeks.
Sergeant Manton also confirmed a member of the garda investigation team will attend court to give an update on the case on April 30th, when all seven defendants will next appear in relation to these charges.
