Man bailed in connection with €50k cannabis seizure
Crime news
A young man charged in connection with the seizure of over €50,000 worth of cannabis yesterday was granted bail at a special court sitting this evening (Saturday).
Joseph Nestor (27) with an address at Barrack Street, Bailieboro, Co Cavan, was before the special sitting of Longford District Court charged with two breaches of the misuse of drugs act. The defendant is charged with possession of cannabis and possession of the drug for sale or supply on August 13, 2021, at an apartment in Bailieboro town.
Garda Paddy Galligan gave evidence to Judge Deirdre Gearty about the arrest, charge and caution of the defendant.
Gda Galligan said, at 12:45pm yesterday (Friday) he arrested the accused and brought him to Bailieboro Garda Station.
The garda told the judge the State was objecting to the defendant's bail application due to the nature and the degree of seriousness of the matter. The officer pointed out that the maximum sentence for the offence was a 14-year term in prison.
Counsel for Mr Nestor, Niamh Murtagh Quinn, said her client is the sole career for a three-year-old child. The barrister described the defendant as a "young man with no huge history of previous offending" and was not previously known to gardaí. She said Mr Nestor is due to start a new job on Monday.
Ms Murtagh Quinn said there was every probability that the hybrid charges would be dealt with in the District Court and pointed out that there was no evidence her client would offend on bail.
Judge Gearty said, based on the Hannafin case, she would fix bail with a number of conditions attached. The conditions include that Mr Nestor reside at his given address, sign on daily in Bailieboro Garda Station, provide gardaí with a mobile phone number on which he must contactable 24 hours a day, not apply for travel documentation and appear at each court sitting.
Fixing bail on the defendant own bond of €200, with a nil cash amount, the judge adjourned the matter to the Virginia Court sitting on September 7 next.