Free legal aid ruling deferred for GAA coach allegedly caught with cannabis

A judge has deferred ruling on whether a GAA coach who was allegedly caught “red-handed” with more than half a million euro worth of cannabis will be entitled to free legal aid.

Dublin District Court heard yesterday that €30,500 in cash was found in a snooker table at the home of David Gill (38), who has been charged over a seizure of cannabis worth about €600,000.

On August 22nd last, gardaí stopped a car at Kylemore Road in Ballyfermot, which resulted in the seizure of a kilogram of cannabis herb. Later at Clonsilla Road, a van was stopped and searched, resulting in the seizure of about 8.5kg of cannabis herb and the arrest of a man in his 30s.

In a follow-up search of premises on Dale Road in Stillorgan, gardaí seized approximately 15kg of cannabis herb.

Mr Gill (38), who teaches Gaelic football to youngsters in south Dublin, is accused of unlawful possession and possessing cannabis with intent to sell or supply, at a lock-up at the rear of a premises at Dale Road, and also at Clonsilla Road where the van was allegedly stopped.

Mr Gill, a father-of-three, who is from Top of the Hill, Leopardstown Road, Sandyford, Dublin, had replied “I understand” when the charges were put to him last Friday.

The court has already heard that Mr Gill, had been "caught red-handed" and Det Garda Timothy Casey had objected to bail, citing the value of the drugs seized.

Last Friday bail had been set in Mr Gill’s own bond of €10,000, half of which has to be lodged in cash. An independent surety was also required in the sum of €20,000, with half of this sum having to be lodged in cash before bail could be taken up.

Yesterday Mr Gill's barrister Edel Gilligan said he hoped to be able to take up bail in the coming days and she asked the court to grant legal aid, adding that he was unemployed and had a mortgage to pay.

Mr Gill, who has not yet indicated how he will plead, was further remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear on September 24th pending directions from the DPP.

Last week bail had been granted to co-accused Rafal Chylinski (29), a Polish national, with an address at Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin. He is accused of unlawful possession and possessing cannabis with intent to supply at Kylemore Road.