Two men arrested after €1.4m heroin seizure in Dublin denied bail

Tom Tuite

Two Dublin men charged after gardaí allegedly observed a drugs handover and intercepted a van carrying €1.4 million have been remanded in custody.

Patrick O'Grady (52) of Ash Green, Kilcarbery Grange, Clondalkin, and 32-year-old Christopher Doherty with an address at Red Arches Close, Baldoyle, were arrested on Wednesday following an operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

They have been charged with possessing heroin for sale or supply. Doherty has additional charges for possessing cannabis for supply at his home address.

Judge Máire Conneely denied their bail at Dublin District Court on Thursday.

Detectives Conor Byrne and Brian Fahy cited the seriousness of the case and the strength of the evidence as they opposed the pair's applications to be released.

The contested bail hearing was told that confidential information led to former fast-food deliveryman O'Grady being observed driving a van that approached the co-defendant's home.

They alleged that Mr Doherty emerged from his home and placed a cardboard box into O'Grady's van, which was subsequently intercepted at Grange Road, Dublin 13, at 1:10 pm on Wednesday.

The court heard that the box containing heroin worth €1.4 million was recovered; a smaller amount of the same drug was found in an extractor fan at O'Grady's, along with €6,000 cash, which was located in a couch at the same property.

A further €18,000 worth of cannabis was allegedly recovered from Doherty's address.

The pair were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. The court heard that they were given instructions on receiving the drugs.

O'Grady maintained to gardaí that one family member had a debt and another was threatened.

Solicitor Holly Laher told the court that her client, Doherty, was looking for work and had suffered from depression and trauma, but had been making efforts to improve his life, and was "vulnerable".

The court heard that he told gardaí he was aware that the box, which he allegedly put into O'Grady's van, contained something "illegal adjacent", such as a mixing agent.

The solicitor stressed her client had no previous convictions.

Paul Larkin Coyle BL said his client, O'Grady, suffered health problems, including COPD, and required medical attention.

Additional serious charges are expected to follow, the judge heard.

Legal aid was granted to the pair, who were remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Thursday.