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BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Ex-Ryanair pilot charged over €10m drugs seizure has bail application pending at High Court
A former Ryanair pilot who is charged in connection with the possession of more than €10 million worth of drugs has an application for bail pending before the High Court, a court has heard. Brendan O'Mara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, made his fourth appearance at Ennis District Court concerning the seizure of an estimated €10 million worth of cannabis at his home in Co Clare on May 7th. Advertisement Mr O'Mara appeared in court on Wednesday via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused him bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on May 10th following Garda objections. Judge Gabbett asked if there was any news on directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Sgt Frank O'Grady said DPP directions were still outstanding. Mr O'Mara's solicitor, Ted McCarthy, said: 'There is a bail application pending before the High Court and I am hoping that will be resolved shortly.' Mr McCarthy asked that the case be adjourned for two weeks and Judge Gabbett said that if Mr O'Mara does secure High Court bail in the meantime he must turn up to court in person on June 25th. Advertisement Mr O'Mara faces two charges – possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis, on May 7th. At the contested bail hearing on May 10th, gardaí told the court Mr O'Mara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that 'further, and more serious charges' may be brought against him in respect of the case where gardaí seized an estimated 502kg in cannabis. Sergeant Rob Sheehy of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit 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 told the court that the Garda investigation was in its 'infancy', but he said gardaí believed that 'it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established'. Advertisement He claimed Mr O'Mara was also a flight risk, due to his 'aeronautical knowledge', that he has a number of pilots licenses, and has links to the USA. Applying for bail on May 10th, solicitor Tara Godfrey said the accused has 'three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and a EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence', and he would 'hand over' his licences to the State and not leave the country. 'His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,' Ms Godfrey said. Ireland Former Ryanair pilot charged with €10m drug seizur... Read More Ms Godfrey said a sister of Mr O'Mara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000. Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody, Ms Godfrey said Mr O'Mara 'has offered up all the means he could to leave this country' and has significant ties here. 'He enjoys the presumption of innocence,' she said. Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O'Mara in custody to re-appear at Ennis District Court on June 25th.
BreakingNews.ie
14-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Former Ryanair pilot charged with €10m drug seizure not a 'sutable case' for legal aid, court hears
A former Ryanair pilot, charged in connection with the possession of more than €10m worth of drugs, is not a suitable case for legal aid, a court was told on Wednesday. At Ennis District Court, Brendan O'Meara (62) of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his second court appearance concerning the Garda seizure of an estimated €10 million of cannabis at Mr O'Meara's south east Clare home last week. Advertisement Mr O'Meara was today appearing in court via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused Mr O'Meara bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday afternoon following Garda objections. From his prison booth, Mr O'Meara spoke only once when he said 'Brendan O'Meara' when asked to state his name for the court. Solicitor, Țara Godfrey, told the court that she is acting as agent for solicitor, Sarah Ryan, who should be on record for Mr O'Meara. Judge Alec Gabbett said that he would assign legal aid to Ms Ryan to represent Mr O'Meara, but Ms Godfrey said: 'No, it would not be a suitable case for that.' Advertisement Judge Gabbett said: 'This is a very recent remand from Saturday. Are there directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)?' In reply, Sgt John Burke said that there are no directions yet available from the DPP, but a cert from Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) would first be required in relation to the alleged drugs. Ms Godfrey said that she was instructed to consent to a two-week adjournment in the case, and Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr O'Meara in custody to re-appear in court via video link on May 28th. Mr O'Meara faces two charges - possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis, on May 7th. Advertisement At the contested bail hearing on Saturday, Gardaí told the court Mr O'Meara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that 'further, and more serious charges' may be brought against him in respect of the case where Gardaí seized an estimated 502kg of cannabis. Sergeant Rob Sheehy of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit 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 told the court that the Garda investigation was in its 'infancy', but he said gardaí believed that 'it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established'. He claimed Mr O'Meara was also a flight risk, due to his 'aeronautical knowledge', that he has a number of pilot's licenses, and has links to the USA. Advertisement Applying for bail on Saturday, Ms Godfrey said the accused has 'three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and an EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence', and he would 'hand over' his licences to the State and not leave the country. 'His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,' Ms Godfrey said. The solicitor said Mr O'Meara had obtained a Green Card to live and work in the US, and that he was planning on 'going to America to his brother who has Parkinson's'. Ms Godfrey said a sister of Mr O'Meara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000. Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody, Ms Godfrey said Mr O'Meara 'has offered up all the means he could to leave this country'. 'He has significant ties here, his wife is in court, his wife's sister is in court, his sister is in court, and his (other) sister passed away six weeks ago'. She said, 'He enjoys the presumption of innocence.'
BreakingNews.ie
10-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Former Ryanair pilot (62) charged with possession of cannabis worth €10m
A former Ryanair pilot charged with possession of €10 million worth of drugs has international criminal connections, gardaí have alleged in court. Brendan O'Meara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was refused bail before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday. Advertisement The court heard Mr O'Meara, who was hugged and kissed in the court by his wife and two relatives, recently handed in his notice to Ryanair. He had intended on moving to the United States with his family to care for his brother who has Parkinson's disease, it was heard. However, after hearing Garda objections to bail, Judge Marie Keane remanded Mr O'Meara in custody to Limerick Prison. Gardaí 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. Advertisement Gardaí seized two large pallets of cannabis with a street value of more than €10 million at Mr O'Meara's home on Wednesday, May 7th. Ireland Cliona Ward suffering from PTSD after release from... Read More Mr O'Meara was charged with one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply, contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and with one count of possessing cannabis, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Judge Keane said the amount of drugs involved was 'enormous' and that Mr O'Meara was facing a lengthy sentence if convicted on the indictment. Gardaí told the court the maximum penalty for conviction on the indictment was life in prison. However, Judge Keane said Mr O'Meara was entitled to the 'presumption of innocence'. The judge remanded Mr O'Meara to appear before Ennis District Court again next Wednesday, May 14th.
Irish Times
10-05-2025
- Irish Times
Former Ryanair pilot (62) charged with possession of €10m worth of cannabis
A former Ryanair pilot, charged on Saturday with possession of more than €10 million worth of drugs, has international criminal connections, gardaí alleged in court. Brendan O'Meara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was refused bail before a special sitting of Ennis District Court. The court heard Mr O'Meara, who was hugged and kissed in the court by his wife, and two relatives, recently handed in his notice to Ryanair. He had been intending on moving himself and his family to the United States to care for his brother who suffers with Parkinson's disease, it was heard. READ MORE However, after hearing Garda objections to bail, Judge Marie Keane remanded Mr O'Meara in custody to Limerick Prison. Gardaí 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. Gardaí seized two large pallets of cannabis with a street value of more than €10 million at Mr O'Meara's home, last Wednesday, May 7th. Mr O'Meara was charged with one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply, contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and with one count of possessing cannabis, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Judge Keane said the amount of drugs involved was 'enormous' and that Mr O'Meara was facing a lengthy sentence if convicted on the indictment. Gardaí told the court the maximum penalty for conviction on the indictment was life in prison. However, Judge Keane said Mr O'Meara was entitled to the 'presumption of innocence'. The judge remanded Mr O'Meara to appear before Ennis District Court again next Wednesday, May 14th.
