Five charged over €2m cannabis seizure in vans and crime 'hub'

Tom Tuite

Five men have appeared in court in connection with a €2 million cannabis seizure and a Garda raid of an alleged organised crime “hub” in Dublin.

Officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau searched a house and stopped vans in Palmerstown, Dublin 20, on Wednesday. Six men were arrested during the operation, and five faced appearances at Dublin District Court on Friday.

Gary Graham, 47, from Patrick Heaney Crescent, D.1, Barry Keane, 30, of Coolamber Road, Rathcoole, Dublin, and Michael Murphy, 32, of Woodstown Meadow, Knocklyon, Dublin, were charged with possessing cannabis for sale or supply at a house on Mill Lane in Palmerstown.

Industrial cleaner and father of one Gary Graham faced an objection to bail.

Detective Garda Ciaran Cummins alleged he and a co-accused drove to the house in a van. It was alleged a co-defendant left and returned several times in other vehicles. One was stopped on the M50 and found carrying €600,000 worth of cannabis, it was alleged.

It was alleged another defendant was stopped in Palmerstown, and gardaí recovered €760,000 worth of cannabis from that van. The court heard claims that Gary Graham remained at the house.

Alleged crime 'hub'

Gardaí allegedly searched it, and found another €670,000 worth of cannabis “stacked against a hedge”.

Detective Garda Cummins alleged the accused was involved and that the house was used as a “hub” for organised crime.

He also said the overall value of drugs was in the region of €2 million. In cross-examination, with the defence he agreed that Gary Graham “adamantly denied involvement in the matter”. He also accepted that it was not a case that he attempted to flee or swim in a river.

He agreed Mr Graham did not have the trappings of wealth and that he had the presumption of innocence.

The defence said he lived at his current address for several years with his family and proposed that he would abide by bail terms and remain in the jurisdiction.

However, Judge Murphy refused to grant him bail and remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Friday.

Gardai consented to bail with conditions for the four co-defendants.

Michael Campbell, 31, from New Priory, Donaghmede, Dublin, was granted bail in his bond of €2,000, and he needs a €10,000 independent surety approved before he can be released. He is accused of having cannabis worth €600,000 at the M50.

Michael Murphy and Barry Keane’s bail was in his bond of €5,000, and each needs a €5,000 independent surety approved.

Gary Graham’s cousin, Christopher Graham, 41, from Matt Talbot Court, Dublin 1, was charged with possessing €760,000 worth of cannabis for supply in a van in Palmerstown. His solicitor Tony Collier submitted he would abide by bail terms.

They made no reply when charged. Legal aid was granted, and they will appear at Cloverhill District Court next week.

Directions from the DPP need to be obtained. A sixth man arrested during the operation remained in Garda custody on Friday evening.