Former Ryanair pilot charged in connection with €10m drugs seizure to apply for bail in High Court

Gordon Deegan

A former Ryanair pilot who is charged in connection with the possession of more than €10 million worth of drugs is to make an application for bail in the High Court on Thursday, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Brendan O’Mara (62) of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his fifth court appearance concerning the Garda seizure of an estimated €10 million in cannabis at Mr O’Mara’s south east Clare home on May 7th.

Mr O’Mara was today appearing in court via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused Mr O’Mara bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on May 10th following Garda objections.

Judge Gabbett asked if there was any news on DPP directions, and Sgt Frank O’Grady said that DPP directions are still outstanding.

Judge Gabbett said: “Time is moving on here. I appreciate there are Forensic Science Ireland certs, but he has been in custody since the 10th of May - two months in custody - and we need to start getting directions here."

Solicitor for Mr O’Mara, Ted McCarthy, said: “The bail hearing for Mr O'Mara has been fixed specially before the High Court for tomorrow afternoon.”

Judge Gabbett told Mr O’Mara that if he does secure High Court bail, he must turn up to court in person on July 23rd.

From the video-link booth, Mr O’Mara said: “Take care. Hope to see you on the 23rd.”

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 of 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 pilot's licenses, and has links to the USA.

Applying for bail on May 10th, solicitor Tara Godfrey said the accused has “three pilot's 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.

She said: “He enjoys the presumption of innocence.”

Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O'Mara in custody to re-appear at Ennis District Court on July 23rd.