Former Ryanair pilot charged with possession of €10m worth of drugs has international criminal connections, court told
A FORMER Ryanair pilot charged with possession of €10 million worth of drugs has international criminal connections, gardai alleged in court.
Brendan O'Meara, of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick,
The court heard the 62-year-old accused, who was hugged and kissed in the court by his wife and two relatives, recently handed in his notice to
He had been intending on moving himself and his family to the
However, after hearing Garda objections to bail, Judge Marie Keane remanded Mr O'Meara in custody to
Gardai alleged during the bail hearing that it was their belief that Mr O'Meara was a 'flight risk', that if granted bail he would 'attempt to leave' Ireland and fail to appear in court for trial.
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Gardai seized two large pallets of cannabis with a street value of more than €10 million, at Mr O'Meara's home on Wednesday.
He is charged with possessing cannabis and possessing it for sale or supply.
Outlining the alleged facts, Sgt Sheehy said
Sgt Sheehy said Gardai then obtained a search warrant at Ennis District Court, and that, later searching the accused's address, they seized 'an estimated 502kg of cannabis worth in excess of €10 million'.
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Mr O'Meara was arrested at his
CCTV FOOTAGE
Sgt Sheehy said he was objecting to bail because of the 'strength and nature of the evidence' as well as the high value of the drugs.
He alleged that Gardai had obtained evidence to support their case, including 'CCTV footage' of Mr O'Meara at a 'courier depot' on May 6, a day before gardai allege the cannabis haul was delivered to his home; as well as
Sgt Sheehy alleged Mr O'Meara was 'caught red-handed on his property'.
He told
BAIL OBJECTION
Sgt Sheehy told the court: 'We believe granting (Mr O'Meara) bail would hinder the progress of our investigation."
He claimed Mr O'Meara was also a flight risk, due to his 'aeronautical knowledge', that he has a number of pilots licenses, and has links to the USA.
Sgt Sheehy said: 'He has a Green Card and he is in the process of moving his life to the USA, Columbus, Ohio, and he has handed in his notice to his job."
Applying for bail, Mr O'Meara's solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said the accused has 'three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and a
Judge Keane said the amount of drugs involved was 'enormous' but the accused was entitled to the 'presumption of innocence'.
The judge remanded Mr O'Meara to appear before Ennis District Court again next Wednesday.
1
Former Ryanair pilot Brendan O'Meara has been charged possession of drugs
Credit: : Eamon Ward
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