Accused ‘too hot’ in the Glen, garda tells court

A garda car was rammed, narrowly avoiding gardaí outside the car, during the investigation into the seizure days earlier of boxes of vacuum-packed cannabis totalling over €500,000 in Cork, it was alleged in court.

It was further alleged that Daniel Kelleher, aged 24, of 44 Mourne Avenue, The Glen, Cork, went to Spain following the seizure, returned and booked into the Radisson Blu Hotel, and was planning to return to Spain when he was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply on January 22 at Arderrin Way, The Glen.

It was alleged Mr Kelleher texted a friend saying he did not need to be around The Glen, where he was “too hot”, and that all he needed was two phones.

Detective Garda Rory Fogarty, who arrested him, objected to bail, and said: “He has a significant drugs debt because of this alleged incident. Gardaí strongly believe that he will continue to be involved in the criminal enterprise to pay off this debt if granted bail.

“Evidence gleaned from his mobile phone indicates that he is still involved in the drugs trade, and there are conversations observed where he is selling large amounts of cannabis and cocaine.”

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said his client’s position is that “he had nothing to do with any of this”, that he was not caught with drugs in his possession, and he would not return to Spain if given bail.

Mr Burke also said that despite evidence given by the detective, there were no driving-related charges against Daniel Kelleher.

Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail, remanding him in custody until April 16.

Intelligence-led investigation

Det Garda Fogarty said that, as part of an intelligence-led investigation into the sale and supply of cannabis in Cork city, gardaí put a surveillance operation in place to monitor the movements of Mr Kelleher and a number of other individuals operating in The Glen area.

“On January 22, gardaí observed [another man] enter a house at Imaal Court, The Glen, take a bag and placed it into the rear of a Volkswagen Golf. Gardaí followed this car to North Monastery Rd before stopping it for a search. €62,000 worth of cannabis was found. Surveillance was then continued at the house at Imaal Court.

“Gardaí observed Daniel Kelleher arrive at Imaal Court, driving a Volkswagen Passat. He entered the Imaal Court address, and was observed returning out shortly after with another person, who was carrying a cardboard box. Daniel Kelleher then sits into the driver’s seat of this vehicle and transports the box to Arderrin Way, The Glen.

“Gardaí observed cardboard boxes being removed and placed into a Grey Toyota Auris that is parked in the driveway of the address. Daniel Kelleher then leaves this address and travels back towards Imaal Court.

“A short time later, gardaí again observed Daniel Kelleher travelling towards Arderrin Way. In the passenger seat was another cardboard box, containing what appeared to be vacuum-packed packaging. He is then seen leaving Arderrin Way. A search warrant is obtained for that property.

“During the search of the Toyota Auris parked in the front of the property was a rubbish bag containing 273kg of cannabis with a street value of €546,000 inside this vehicle.”

He said gardaí then sought Mr Kelleher for arrest. In the early hours of January 27, he was seen leaving Mourne Avenue driving a Volkswagen Passat. It was stopped on Sunday’s Well Rd by an unmarked patrol car.

“Gardaí approached the Passat. Daniel Kelleher was in the driver’s seat, and there was another male in the front passenger seat. While gardaí were approaching the Passat, Daniel Kelleher then accelerated the Passat at speed, ramming the patrol car while narrowly avoiding the garda members present, making good his escape and failing to stop.”

Det Garda Fogarty said gardaí believe Mr Kelleher subsequently left the jurisdiction to avoid arrest, but returned to Cork on March 31 and on April 3, booked into the Radisson Blu Hotel in Little Island. On April 6, gardaí saw him travelling in a Volkswagen Tiguan at White’s Cross. He was arrested when he allegedly tried to discard his phone.

“There is evidence on his mobile phone showing that he knew gardaí were actively looking to arrest him for this offence, that he had travelled to Spain shortly after January 23, and that he was planning on returning to Spain without delay with the intention of staying there for a number of years,” Det Garda Fogarty said

“In one Snapchat video message, he states that he was ‘too hot in The Glen’, in reference to garda attention, and that: ‘I’m going to get back to the graft — all I need is two phones to make money, I don’t need to be around here at all, do you get me.’

“Gardaí say this shows it was Daniel Kelleher’s intention to run his drug enterprise from Spain.”