Two Englishmen have been remanded in custody after they appeared in court yesterday and were charged in connection with the country's biggest ever cocaine discovery when more than €100 million worth of the drug was washed up on the west Cork coast.
Martin Wanden (44), no fixed address and also known as Anthony Claude Linden, Robena Court, Swanley, Kent, and Joe Daly (40), Carrisbrooke Avenue, Bexley, Kent, were brought before Skibbereen District Court amid tight security.
Up to 20 gardaí including uniformed officers, armed detectives and armed members of the Emergency Response Unit were posted around Skibbereen courthouse for the appearance of the two men who were arrested last week in west Cork.
Mr Daly was arrested at Gubbeen, near Schull, on Wednesday morning while Mr Wanden was arrested on Thursday when he was discharged from Bantry General Hospital, where he had spent four days receiving treatment after being rescued from the sea.
Yesterday, both Mr Daly and Mr Wanden were charged with possessing cocaine and possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Dunlough Bay, Mizen, Goleen, on July 2nd. The court heard evidence of their arrest, charge and caution.
Sgt Gerard Prendeville said he had arrested Mr Daly in Schull and charged him with both offences. Det Garda DJ O'Shea said he had arrested and charged Mr Wanden in Bantry and he too made no reply after caution.
The State solicitor for west Cork, Malachy Boohig, said the State was seeking a remand in custody for both men to Clonakilty District Court next Tuesday. The men's solicitor, Gerry Hyland, said he was not making any application for bail at this stage.
Judge James McNulty noted there was no application for bail and he remanded both men in custody at Cork prison to appear again at Clonakilty District Court on July 17th.
Meanwhile a 23-year-old Englishman, Gerard Hagan from Hollowcroft, Liverpool, who was charged at the weekend with two similar charges arising from the cocaine discovery at Dunlough Bay, is due to appear at Dunmanway District Court today.
Gardaí were last night continuing to question a fourth Englishman arrested at Gubbeen last Wednesday and it is expected that he will be brought before Dunmanway District Court this morning to be charged in connection with the seizure.