'Progress made' in case of ex-Ryanair pilot charged over €10m drugs seizure

Gordon Deegan

A Garda has told a court that “there is a level of progress being made” in the case where a former Ryanair pilot is charged in connection with the possession of more than €10 million worth of drugs.

Brendan O’Mara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, on Wednesday made his third appearance at Ennis District Court over the seizure of cannabis worth an estimated €10 million at his home on May 7th.

Mr O’Mara appeared in court via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge previously refused him bail following Garda objections.

From his prison booth on Wednesday, Mr O’Mara said "good morning", and when asked to confirm his name for the court, he said “it’s Brendan O’Mara”.

Solicitor Ted McCarthy said Mr O’Mara’s name appears incorrectly as O’Meara on the charge sheets and the correct spelling is “O’Mara”.

Sgt John Burke said there are no directions yet available from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) but “there is a level of progress being made in this case”.

“A provisional cert has come from Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) which indicates the substance is cannabis,” he told the court.

“There are other investigations going on and there is progress being made,” he added.

Judge Alec Gabbett said he would further remand Mr O’Mara in custody to reappear before Ennis District Court on June 11th via video-link.

The judge said if there are other court applications elsewhere and they are successful – referring to a possible application for bail to the High Court – then Mr O’Mara would have to attend the court in person if not in custody.

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”.

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 had “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.

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.