THE High Court has relaxed bail conditions for a former sales associate with high end retail brands in Dublin charged in connection with an alleged €620,000 cannabis drug seizure at Shannon airport last November, a court has heard.
Seán Grehan has been in custody since November 13th where he was remanded in custody with consent to bail on condition that he provide a €20,000 cash surety.
Mr Grehan (28) of Stradbrook Park, Blackrock, Dublin has been unable to provide the €20,000 surety to secure his release from prison and he is charged with two alleged drugs offences arising from the airport seizure on November 12th last at Shannon airport.
Counsel for Mr Grehan, Sorcha Dianamh Ní Néill Fulham BL has now told Judge Alec Gabbett at Ennis District Court that the High Court has relaxed the bail conditions where the €20,000 cash surety has been reduced to €2,000.
Sgt John Burke told the court that the materials are with Forensic Science Ireland (FS) where an officer there has been designated to carry out an examination of the alleged drugs.
Sgt Burke said that he couldn’t say when the examination will be complete.
Judge Gabbett said that Mr Grehan could well have secured bail by the time the case is next before the court stating that the cash surety is attainable.
Ms Ní Néill Fulham said that there remains an issue for an address for Mr Grehan to reside at while on bail.
Ms Ní Néill Fulham pointed out to the court that Mr Grehan has been in custody since last November and said that there was a need to expedite the examination of the drugs when an accused person is in custody.
At the contested bail hearing on November 13th last, Gardai objected to bail and Garda Kevin Molloy said that it will be alleged that a passenger from an inbound Boston flight, Seán Grehan was detected by customs officers to have two 20kg suitcases at Shannon airport on November 12th containing 31kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of €620,000.
Garda Molloy said that it will be alleged that Mr Grehan was due to pass the two suitcases to another person after getting through customs at Shannon airport.
Judge Gabbett said that it will be alleged that Mr Grehan “was caught red handed at the carousel at Shannon airport with two suit-cases full of drugs”.
In response, Ms Ní Néill Fulham told the bail hearing that this would be a matter for evidence.
Ms Ní Néill Fulham said that her client is a father of two children, aged seven and five, and has worked as a sales associate for a number of high end retail brands in Dublin.
In the case, Mr Grehan is charged with at Shannon airport on November 12th having in his possession, cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
Mr Grehan is also charged with having in his possession cannabis on November 12th at Shannon airport contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Judge Gabbett remanded Mr Grehan in custody with consent to bail to appear before Ennis District Court on January 21st next.
