Alleged members of Lithuanian organised crime gang await DPP directions

A judge has noted that two men who are allegedly part of a a Lithuanian organised crime gang operating in Cork city have waited “a long time” for DPP directions having first entered custody in March of this year.

Jonas Pavilionis, aged 46, of no fixed abode, was previously charged with possessing €3,920 worth of heroin for sale and supply and with having a machete when he was arrested on March 25 in Douglas Village shopping centre in Cork city.

He was also charged with having two bill hooks two days previously in Audley Place in Cork city. The allegation was that he was seen stashing them behind an electricity box.

When Mr Pavilionis appeared before Cork District Court in March Dt Garda Ruairi McGovern objected to bail on the grounds that “he (the accused) would be gone in two seconds”. 

Det Garda McGovern said that Operation Fustian targeted this particular gang. He alleged that the accused only arrived in Ireland in January of this year “and was brought here purely for the purpose of protection”. 

Today at Cork District Court Sgt Gearoid Davis said that DPP directions were awaited for Mr Paviolionis and a second alleged member of the gang 33-year-old Karolis Guzauskas.

Sgt Davis said that the investigation had involved a number of searches and that analysis was required from Forensic Science Ireland.

“Thirty devices were seized for analysis. There are a number of people before the courts.” 

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said that his client had asked him to apply to have the matter struck out.

Judge Brendan O’Reilly told Mr Burke that he would have a “a very well grounded” application to have the matter struck out on the next occasion in the event of DPP directions not being available at that point.

Mr Paviolionis and Mr Guzauskas were both further remanded in custody to appear before the court for DPP directions on September 3 next.

Mr Guzauskas, of no fixed abode, was first before Cork District Court in March. He was charged with 12 counts of possession of Diamorphine (heroin) and 12 counts of having heroin for sale or supply. It was alleged that he sold heroin to undercover gardaí in the Fitzgerald’s Park and Mardyke area of Cork on five different occasions.

Dt Garda Jeremy Murphy previously told the court that Mr Guzauskas was the victim of a serious assault on March 19 last. His right arm was in a plaster cast when he was first charged.