Three in court over Dublin heroin seizure

Three men have appeared in court in Dublin charged in connection with the seizure of €1.2 million worth of heroin in the city last Wednesday.

Shane Maloney (27) of Drimnagh Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, Brian Fitzpatrick (21) with an address at Orchard Lawns, Ballyfermot, Dublin and Andrew Anderson (23) of Kylemore Drive, Ballyfermot appeared before the Dublin District Court in the Bridewell on separate charges of possession of drugs and possession for sale or supply.

All three were remanded in custody, two men with consent to bail, to appear next Thursday at Cloverhill District Court.

No application for bail was made for Mr Maloney and Mr Justice John Lindsay remanded him in custody without bail to Cloverhill Prison. Detective Diarmuid Maguire from the organised crime unit said that Mr Maloney made no reply when the two charges were put to him.

Brian Fitzpatrick and Andrew Anderson were both remanded in custody with consent to bail. Gardai objected to both bail applications on a number of grounds, including the seriousness of the charges.

Judge John Lindsay granted bail but ordered both men to follow a number of similar conditions requested by arresting gardaí.

Brian Fitzpatrick was granted consent to bail on the condition that he provided his own bond of €5,000 and a cash lodgement of €15,000. An independent surety of €75,000 was also required including €35,000 in a bank account and €40,000 represented by property.

Garda Stephen Bolger told Justice Lindsay that Mr Fitzpatrick had no reply when the charges were put to him.

Andrew Anderson was granted bail on the condition that he provided his own bond of €5,000 and a cash lodgement of €10,000. He was also to provide an independent surety of €50,000. Garda Stephen Bolger said that when charged,

Mr Anderson said "I hadn't got it in my possession". Conditions of bail for both men included, signing on twice daily at Ballyfermot Garda Station between 9am and 1pm and 2pm and 9pm. Both men were to surrender their passports and not apply for any documents that would enable them to travel outside the jurisdiction. Neither man was to directly or indirectly associate with their co-accused.

They also have to reside at their home places and let gardai know if they change address.

An application was made for legal aid for Mr Fitzpatrick and Mr Anderson. All three men are to appear in Cloverhill District Court next Thursday,August 21st.

Gardai stopped four cars on Wednesday night at Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown, Dublin and seized 6kg of heroin. The haul was part of an operation by the organised crime unit, the garda national drug unit and Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.