An aviation broker was remanded in custody yesterday charged in connection with last week's seizure of €10 million worth of heroin at a small airport in Belgium.
Judge Cormac Dunne remanded John Kinsella (36), Cairn Wood, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, to Cloverhill Prison until Friday, as it was feared he might flee the country.
Gardaí objected to Mr Kinsella being released on bail due to the seriousness of the charges and his involvement in the aviation business.
At the Bridewell District Court, Dublin, Judge Dunne said: "Mr Kinsella does constitute a flight risk and I refuse him bail."
Mr Kinsella, who was a former national super-heavyweight boxing champion, was charged with conspiracy to import controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.
In refusing bail, Judge Dunne said he was taking into account an overall analysis of Mr Kinsella's business interests in the airport industry.
Det Garda Peter Gilligan said he charged Mr Kinsella at 5.18pm yesterday in Clondalkin Garda station. The garda said the charges related to the seizure of 50kg of heroin at an airfield on September 26th.
The court heard he was cautioned and charged and had nothing to say. Mr Kinsella was arrested at Weston aerodrome in Co Kildare at 5.25pm last Tuesday.
Det Garda Gilligan said Mr Kinsella had an intimate knowledge of the aviation industry and many contacts within it.
"As well as that he is a man who has access to a private jet and indeed owned one," he said. The garda said driving licences were found in Mr Kinsella's home which he believed were forged.
He said these had yet to be forensically analysed to prove whether they were false but he feared Mr Kinsella would be able to acquire forged documents.
The court heard Mr Kinsella had access to a property in Thailand, a number of bank accounts in Bangkok and considerable assets. Counsel for Mr Kinsella, Niall Nolan, told the court both Mr Kinsella's Irish and UK passports were already in Garda custody. Mr Kinsella had ties to the jurisdiction as his wife is expected to give birth in five weeks, and he pays weekly maintenance to support two young daughters from a previous relationship.
Det Garda Gilligan said controls regarding passenger jets exiting the State from private airfields were lax.
"It is my belief it is quite possible for a person who has access to private jets to leave the country at will, without knowledge," he said.
Mr Kinsella, who took the witness stand, said: "I don't have access to aeroplanes. The aircraft I did have access to are no longer under my control as I signed over shareholding of the company I was involved in."
Mr Kinsella said an aircraft which gardaí were alleging he owned actually belonged to another company and was in France undergoing heavy maintenance.
The accused said he had taken pilot exams and passed with high marks but had not completed a practical and did not hold a pilot's licence. The court heard he had a trainee aircraft licence and fewer than 100 hours' flying experience of light aircraft.
Mr Kinsella said anyone could hire a jet but they would have to meet the criteria. He said anyone travelling to the UK by private jet would have to produce passports, flight plans and give 24 hours' notice.
Det Garda Gilligan put it to Mr Kinsella that 24 hours' notice was not required for other European countries.
Mr Kinsella admitted he had travelled along with other business passengers on private jets but said his name would still be on the records.
He said he was a chartered broker and if somebody wanted to rent an aircraft they would come to him.
Det Garda Gilligan, from the Garda National Drugs Unit, said: "A file in this matter is being completed involving assistance from a number of European countries, including Dutch, Belgian and UK authorities." The garda said it was a complex case.
Mr Kinsella was one of five people arrested in Dublin, Belgium and Holland following the seizure of 50 kilos of heroin which were found in the luggage of a passenger as he tried to board an Irish private jet at an airport in southern Belgium.
The jet had flown to Belgium from Weston aerodrome.