The trial of two Filipino sailors charged with unlawfully importing cocaine was put back to February by Judge O'Higgins at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court yesterday after state counsel sought an adjournment.
Mr Gerry Murphy SC, said witnesses from Columbia, Scandinavia and the Philippines were not available to the court that day and there was also an application by one of the defendants, Mr Hernandez, for a separate trial. The judge adjourned the matter to February 4th next.
Mr Danilo Arca (45) a pump operator with an address at Luna Street, Naic, Cavite, Philippines, and Ronaldo C Fernandez (31), a sailor from Golden Street, Anastaccia village, Marikina, Philippines, were crew members of the Front Guider, a Columbian vessel which brought a cargo of coal to the ESB power station at Moneypoint near Kilrush, Co Clare.