A Celbridge courier charged with possession of £3.4 million of cannabis resin was promised £50 by a man called "Malcolm" to make the delivery, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told.
Mr Patrick Ralph (36), a courier, of Castle Village Court, Celbridge, County Kildare and Mr Eugene Kelly (24), of Sheridan Court, Dorset Street, Dublin 1 have both pleaded not guilty to seven charges of unlawful possession of cannabis resin and having it for sale or supply on November 13th, 1997.
Detective Garda Margaret Howard told prosecuting counsel Ms Miriam Reynolds SC, that Mr Ralph admitted in his statement he received a phone call from a man named "Malcolm" three weeks before the seizure.
He said he was told he would be paid £50 to collect a number of plants from Johnstown Garden Centre and deliver them to an address at Pineview Road, Tallaght.
Most of day four of the hearing was taken up with legal argument before Judge Patrick McCartan in the absence of the jury.