Men in drugs case may seek review

Three Englishmen charged with importing £15 million worth of cannabis resin into the State may take a judicial review in the …

Three Englishmen charged with importing £15 million worth of cannabis resin into the State may take a judicial review in the High Court.

Mr George Preece (49), Mr Barry Court (52) and Mr Matthew Paul Simpkins (32) were released when the State entered a nolle prosequi against them at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, only for them to be quickly rearrested and later recharged.

Yesterday at Bandon District Court, solicitors for the three, Mr Dermot O'Shea, Mr Con Murphy and Mr Plunkett Taaffe, indicated that they may be taking judicial review proceedings in the High Court over the State's handling of their clients' cases.

Mr O'Shea, who acts for Mr Preece, said he had just been served with a new book of evidence and he needed time to examine it. He sought an adjournment for a week and indicated that he may be taking judicial review proceedings in the High Court.

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Mr Murphy, for Mr Court, and Mr Taaffe, for Mr Simpkins, told the court they were in similar positions.

Mr Malachy Boohig, for the State, said he could offer the three men a trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court next week but he had no objection to them being remanded. Judge James O'Connor remanded them in custody to Bandon on June 2nd.