Man charged over €600,000 drugs haul has no legitimate source of income, court told
David Raleigh
A man charged, Thursday, with possessing drugs worth more than half a million euro for sale or supply, is currently renting a riverside apartment in Co Limerick, for €2,500 a month, despite having no legitimate source of income, it was heard in court.
Martin Murrihy, (37), Riverfront Apartments, The Square, Annacotty, Co Limerick, appeared before Limerick District Court, charged with two counts of possession of cocaine and cannabis, with a combined total street value of €610,00, for sale/supply; and two counts of simple possession of the drugs.
Garda Daniel Dillon, Limerick Garda Divisional Drugs Unit, gave evidence in court of arresting and charging Mr Murrihy, after the drugs were allegedly seized by gardaí at the accused’s address on Wednesday, April 29th.
Garda Dillon said Mr Murrihy “made no reply” to all four charges.
Citing Section 2 of the Bail Act as well as O’Callaghan Rules, Garda Dillon objected to an application by Mr Murrihy for bail, “based upon my belief that Martin Murrihy will continue to commit further serious offences, and that if committed to bail, he will fail to meet bail”.
Garda Dillon told the court that gardaí arrested Mr Murrihy “as part of investigations targeting the sale and supply of cannabis and cocaine in the southern region”.
Gardaí stopped and arrested Mr Murrihy, who at the time was driving a white 2002 Dublin-registered Citroen Berlingo van at 10am, at Annacotty.
“Mr Murrihy attempted to break his mobile phone, in an attempt to destroy criminal evidence, and a struggle ensued with gardaí,” Garda Dillon alleged in the bail hearing.
Nothing was found during a search of the van, and when gardaí explained to Mr Murrihy that they had a search warrant for his apartment, he told them he had drugs stored there.
“He accompanied gardaí to the property, and on searching it, gardaí recovered 23.5 kgs of cannabis, valued at €470,000; and 2 kgs of cocaine, valued at €140,000; as well as 16,500 alprazolam tablets valued at €33,000 - a total estimated street value of €643,000,” Garda Dillon alleged.
“Gardaí also seized €3,900 cash, a vacuum packer, gloves, weighing scales and individual deal wraps,” he added.
Mr Murrihy was interviewed by gardai on four occasions, and he “admitted facilitating an unnamed group by storing quantities of controlled drugs”, the garda alleged.
Garda Dillon gave uncontested evidence that Mr Murrihy was not in receipt of any social welfare, is currently unemployed, and “has no legitimate means or source of income”.
“Mr Murrihy is currently renting an apartment costing €2,500 per month, for which he has no means to pay for,” Garda Dillon continued.
Under cross-examination by Mr Murrihy’s solicitor, Sarah Ryan, Garda Dillon agreed Mr Murrihy provided his passport to gardaí following his arrest, before it had been requested.
Garda Dillon also agreed Mr Murrihy told him that he was “under pressure” by unnamed individuals.
Judge Patricia Harney said Mr Murrihy was before the court “presumed innocent until proven guilty”.
The judge said she was satisfied to refuse bail and remanded Mr Murrihy to appear before Limerick District Court again for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on May 5th.
