Construction boss and 3 workers accused of €5.1m cannabis haul in coffee tables
Tom Tuite
A Dublin construction firm owner and three employees were intercepted transporting €5.1 million worth of cannabis imported into the State among a consignment of coffee tables, a court has heard.
Director of Streamville Construction, John Sheppard (61), company secretary Dermot Hogan (51), gas fitter Anthony Daly (43) and Jason Gibbons (27) were charged with possessing 255 kilogrammes of cannabis and having it for sale or supply at Carndonagh Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13 on Thursday.
The four men were arrested after the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau conducted a "controlled delivery" of the consignment, which was originally dispatched from Toronto, Canada.
A garda car was rammed during the operation, Dublin District Court heard on Saturday.
Bail was granted, but it required lodgements of between €3,000 and €7,000 and an agreement to obey conditions.
Sheppard of Streamville Road, Kilbarrack, Gibbons, who lives in Snowdrop Walk, Darndale, Hogan, with an address at Donaghmede Road, and Daly of Edenmore Park, Raheny, were remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.
Judge Máire Conneely heard it was a sophisticated operation and involved a transnational organisation.
10 coffee tables were delivered to the construction firm's premises by an undercover garda, and all four men were involved in loading them onto a flat-bed truck, which left in convoy with two vans.
The contested bail hearing was also told that one of the vans rammed gardaí.
Detective Garda Karl Howard told solicitor Ciaran Walsh that his client tried to discard his phone from one of the vans and to destroy an invoice docket in the vehicle.
Detective Garda Val Russell alleged that Anthony Daly drove one of the vans which rammed a garda vehicle.
Questioned by defence counsel Kevin McCrave, the detective alleged Daly had a six-figure debt and got his employer involved in bringing in the consignment. However, the court heard he denied knowing it was cannabis.
Detective Garda Redmond O'Leary told the court that the father of three, Sheppard's firm, ordered the coffee tables, but he claimed he did not know it contained cannabis.
His solicitor Kelly Breen stressed his strong ties to the country and told the court he had health problems.
Detective Garda Rioghnach O'Sullivan alleged that Hogan handled the freight delivery charges and documents.
His barrister, Paddy Flynn, said Hogan, who also works for the Office of Public Works, had serious medical health problems. The court heard further that more serious charges could be brought.
Lawyers for the four stressed they had the presumption of innocence and would face a lengthy wait in custody until their applications were refused.
Bail was set at €3,000 for Hogan, €5,000 for both Sheppard and Gibbons and €7000 for Daly.
Once taken up, they must surrender their passports, not apply for replacements, not contact each other, and sign on regularly at their local garda station.
