Father of Kerry businessman offers life savings for bail in €32m crystal meth case

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024 - 16:12

Tom Tuite

The father of a Kerry businessman charged over the country's largest-ever crystal meth seizure has offered to stand bail for his son and told a court he would put forward €100,000 from his life savings.

James Leen (41), of Pilgrim Hill, Kilmourna, Listowel, faces two charges of drug importation at Cork Port, Ringaskiddy, on October 16th, 2023, of methylamphetamine, known as crystal meth, and possession of the drug worth €13,000 or more at Ballyseedy Garden Centre between October 27th, 2023, and February 12th, 2024.

Nathan McDonnell (44), a former company director who previously ran the Ballyseedy Garden Centre, has been charged with possession of drugs worth more than €13,000 for sale or supply at the garden centre between October 27th and February 12th.

The District Court had heard customs officers discovered 543kg of crystal meth, with an estimated value of €32.8 million, when they inspected a container in the Port of Cork.

The court had heard this machine had been shipped from Mexico and stored in Ballyseedy Garden Centre since October.

They were refused bail in February but were entitled to bring a fresh application to the High Court in Cloverhill, Dublin.

The matter was listed on Thursday before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, but Mr Leen asked, via counsel, to defer his application until next Thursday.

Mr McDonnell's bail hearing went ahead, and he watched the proceedings via video link from prison.

Detective Sergeant Ernie Henderson of Tralee station confirmed to Theresa Lowe BL, for the State, that he was objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the case and he had flight risk concerns.

Ms Justice O'Connor noted submission from defence counsel Keith Brannigan.

Nathan McDonnell's father, Michael McDonnell, told the court he was willing to stand bail for his son and offered €100,000 from his life savings as a surety.

Ms Justice O'Connor said "the allegations in this case are in respect of very serious offending," and she wanted to consider the matter.

She will deliver her ruling on Tuesday.

Earlier, the proceedings heard that the men may face additional charges, and the Director of Public Prosecutions' directions were required. They will also face their next District Court appearance on March 27th.