A housepainter who claims he can earn up to 20 per cent a time for going bail in drugs cases was yesterday approved as an independent bailsperson for a man accused of having £150,000 worth of cocaine and ecstasy.
Mr Edward Fenelon, who denied he was a professional bailsman, said he had previously gone bail for other people, including convicted drug-dealer Tony Felloni. He said the "normal rate" for doing so was 10 per cent of the bail money, although it could be 20 per cent in drugs cases.
He was giving evidence in a bail application for Mr John Paul Duff (20), of Foxborough Meadows, Lucan, Co Dublin, who is charged with having £150,000 worth of cocaine and ecstasy at Scribblestown, Blanchardstown, on July 29th.
Independent bail had been set at £20,000 at a previous Dublin District Court hearing.
Mr Fenelon, of Avondale Park, Dublin, said he knew Mr Duff's family well, though it was four years since he had met the accused. He had been approached to go bail by Mr Duff's brother. He had gone bail in other cases and all the defendants had turned up in court.
Asked by Garda Mark McMahon how much he would get for going bail, he said: "Usually a day's pay because I lose time out of work." When pressed about a conversation he had had with the garda before the court about what the "normal rate" would be, he said: "They would put you on a promise of about 10 per cent."
Asked would it be up to 20 per cent in drugs cases, he said: "You can ask for it." He had not asked for it in this case.
Asked was he a professional bailsperson, he said: "Not really, no, I am a housepainter."
Mr Fenelon produced a bank book to show he had the £20,000 bail figure. He denied the money in the account was the proceeds of going bail for others and said it had come from a property he had sold and savings.
He accepted that if Mr Duff did not turn up in court he could lose the £20,000, but added: "Life is full of risks anyway, isn't it?"
Judge William Early approved Mr Fenelon as bailsperson on an undertaking that he would not reduce his bank balance below £20,000. He warned Mr Fenelon that should he do so he would be considered to be in contempt of court and could go to jail.
Judge Early remanded Mr Duff on bail to October.