The state has been urged to progress the criminal cases against seven men accused of conspiring to import drugs into Ireland off the Kerry coast.
The seven men were arrested at piers in Kerry and Clare in January, and all seven appeared in Tralee District Court on the charges against them.
The Director of Public Prosecutions must yet indicate in which court it wants to prosecute the men.
Four of the seven men are charged with conspiring with each other to import drugs of a value greater than €13,000 between 11th and 13th January this year, and they all appeared via video link from Portlaoise Prison.
They are 31-year-old Ryan Watson of Moodiesburn, Glasgow, 40-year-old Gary Monks of Amulree Place, Glasgow, 30-year-old Conor Costello of Madam’s Bank Road, Derry, and 45-year-old Miljan Kuprivica of Bollin Drive, Manchester.
In the cases of Mr Monks and Mr Watson, solicitor Brendan Ahern acting on behalf of Simon Fleming, said time is passing and urged progress on this as quickly as possible.
Mr Ahern asked in relation to Mr Costello, who he represents, if this matter could be expedited, as he’s in custody since January and was refused bail in the High Court.
Solicitor Pat Mann, representing Mr Kuprivica, said his client is in custody on this matter alone since January and we’re now in the middle of March.
Mr Mann said the director’s office should be coming up with directions at this stage.
The three other accused men, 29-year-old Feljon Lao, 36-year-old Hanz Pangahin, and 43-year-old Christopher Ampo, all Filipino nationals, appeared via video link from Cork Prison.
They are all represented by solicitor Pádraig O’Connell, who made the same application for all three men; that their cases be marked peremptory on the next date.
This would mean that either the state produce the book of evidence on the next date, or the matters would be struck out.
Through a Filipino interpreter, Judge David Waters said he will not mark the cases peremptory at this stage because of the seriousness of the charges, and the fact they can apply for bail in the High Court.
For all seven men, Sergeant Chris Manton said DPP directions are awaited, and Judge Waters noted the comments of all solicitors requesting progress.
All seven accused were remanded in continuing custody to 26 March.
