Seven men accused of conspiring to import drugs off the Kerry coast have been sent forward to stand trial.
The men, who were arrested in Kerry and Clare in January, all appeared in person at Tralee District Court and were served with their respective books of evidence.
Judge David Waters separately sent each man forward to stand trial at a sitting of a Special Criminal Court.
A heavy Garda presence including members of the armed support unit were present outside Tralee Court House this morning, while inside the books of evidence were served on each of the seven accused.
All seven men are charged with conspiring to import drugs of a value greater than €13,000 into Ireland with each other and other persons unknown, on dates between 18 December 2024 and 15 January 2025.
The accused all appeared in person at Tralee District Court, 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, who walked with a limp into the court.
The remaining accused, are Filipino nationals 29-year-old Feljon Lao, 36-year-old Hanz Pangahin, and 43-year-old Christopher Ampo, who each wore grey tracksuit pants, red jackets and rosary beads around their necks.
State solicitor Diane Reidy told Judge David Waters that each man faces a section 46.2 offence against the state charge, and an ordinary court is ineffective for the service of justice.
She therefore applied to send the men forward to a sitting of a Special Criminal Court.
Judge Waters provided each defendant with an alibi notice – whereby if they plan to provide alibi evidence at trial, 14 days notice must be given to the state upon service of the book of evidence.
Solicitors for the filipino nationals, Padraig O’Connell, and Darragh Hassett requested the translation of the book of evidence to filipino for their clients.
Mr O’Connell told the judge there is not an option to enter a plea at this stage, as the accused can’t go forward on a signed plea on this charge, but indicated his client would be pleading not guilty. Mr O'Connell added he would be applying to the High Court for bail.
Solicitor for Mr Koprivica, Pat Mann, told the court a translator is not required for his client and applied for legal aid and two counsel to be assigned to solicitor John Cashel.
Solicitor Brendan Ahern, representing Mr Costello - who was wearing a black tracksuit - was assigned two counsel. Ryan Watson was also assigned two counsel, he was represented in court by Brendan Ahern on behalf of solicitor Simon Fleming.
Barrister Conall Towe, directed by Paul Tiernan Solicitors, who's representing Mr Monks, handed in a statement of means for his client and applied for legal aid, as well as three counsel.
The Judge granted legal aid, but assigned two counsel, advising that the matter for a third counsel would have to be dealt with in the higher court.
Judge Waters sent all seven men forward to a sitting of a Special Criminal Court.
The Judge assigned legal aid and two counsel to each of the defendants and remanded them in continuing custody to their respective prisons.
