logo
Major probe after €3m worth of drugs seized in Limerick

Major probe after €3m worth of drugs seized in Limerick

Sunday World7 hours ago

147kg of the drug was seized by officers from Revenue
Almost €3 million worth of cannabis has been seized in Limerick.
The seizure was part of an intelligence-led operation.
Revenue officers seized 147 kg of the drug, with an estimated value of €2,940,000.
The seizure came as part of a joint operation carried out by Revenue Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed to SundayWorld.com that no arrests have been made in connection with the haul.
'This seizure is part of Revenue's ongoing joint investigations involving organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs,' a spokesperson for Revenue said.
'If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on phone number 1800 295 295.
'Investigations are ongoing.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Judge denies legal aid for three senior barristers to represent each of Sliabh Liag murderers
Judge denies legal aid for three senior barristers to represent each of Sliabh Liag murderers

Irish Times

timean hour ago

  • Irish Times

Judge denies legal aid for three senior barristers to represent each of Sliabh Liag murderers

A judge has denied legal aid for a third senior barrister to represent each of the Sliabh Liag murderers Alan Vial and Nikita Burns in their bid to overturn their convictions, noting he had to have 'some regard to the public purse'. Vial and Burns, a former couple, were convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last March of murdering Robert 'Robin' Wilkin whose body was thrown over the cliffs in Co Donegal almost three years ago. Vial (39), from Drumanoo Head, Killybegs and Burns (23), of Carrick, Co Donegal, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Wilkin in Co Donegal on June 25th, 2023. The trial heard the 66-year-old suffered at least two depressed fractures to his head before being put over Sliabh Liag, which ranks among Europe's tallest sea cliffs. READ MORE Vial's application for legal aid was one of eight before the Court of Appeal . Mr Justice John Edwards said he had considered matters in chambers and in Vial's case approved legal aid for two counsel. Defence barrister James P O'Brien told the court Vial had been represented by three counsel in the trial. He said the trial had been long and involved a significant amount of disclosure and asked that three counsel also be allocated for his client's appeal. [ Three friends left the Donegal pub at closing time. Eight days later, a body was pulled from the sea at Sliabh Liag Opens in new window ] Mr Justice Edwards said his briefing note had been for two counsel. He questioned whether three counsel were needed, going on to say he could not recall any case in the Court of Appeal where a party had been represented by more than two barristers. Joseph Mulrean, representing Burns, said he had a similar application to make for three counsel. Burns case was listed today for an application to extend the deadline for lodging her appeal against her conviction, which the court granted. 'What's so complex about this case that it requires three counsel as opposed to two?' Mr Justice Edwards asked. 'If there is some reason I'm open-minded about it but simply to maintain parity with the court below is not a good reason,' said the judge, going on to note: 'I do have to have some regard to the public purse.' He said the appeal hearing would be shorter than a trial and did not involve live witnesses or live exhibits. He noted transcripts are provided, legal submissions are prepared in advance and the appeal is usually presented by one counsel. Mr Mulrean said the case had involved a significant amount of documentary evidence and had been 'extremely exhibit heavy'. Mr Justice Edwards asked if it was the State's intention to have three counsel for the appeal and Emmet Nolan, for the Director of Prosecutions , confirmed it was not. The judge then told the defence lawyers he would only certify for two counsel. The Irish Coast Guard recovered Mr Wilkin's body from the sea eight days after he was thrown from the cliffs. Due to predator damage and decomposition, State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster was unable to identify a cause of death. She noted multiple fractures to Mr Wilkin's face but could not say which had been caused by the fall from the cliff and which related to a prior assault. However, the jury heard the two fractures to the back of his head were not consistent with a fall down a cliff, but were 'entirely consistent' with injuries that could have been caused by a bloody rock found by gardaí at the top of the cliffs. DNA testing showed blood and hairs on the rock were Mr Wilkin's. Each accused claimed the other used the rock to beat Mr Wilkin about the head before he was put over the cliffs. However, the prosecution argued they were part of a joint enterprise to cause serious injury to Mr Wilkin and therefore both guilty of murder.

Sunbed business fined for selling session to minor
Sunbed business fined for selling session to minor

Irish Times

timean hour ago

  • Irish Times

Sunbed business fined for selling session to minor

A judge has imposed a €2,600 penalty on a sunbed business for selling a session to a minor. In the case before Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a €1,000 fine and costs of €1,600 on Solcraft Ltd for selling a sunbed session to a girl (15) at its premises Cosmopoli Tan in Shannon, Co Clare , last year. It came after a 'secret shopper' was deployed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to do a test purchase in Cosmopoli Tan at Unit 7, Block E, Bru Na Sionna, Shannon, on November 26th, 2024. Barry Kelleher, solicitor for the HSE, told the court that on the date 'a 15-year-old child attended at the salon and approached the counter and asked for use of sunbed session'. READ MORE Mr Kelleher said 'the child asked for three minutes of time and she was told that she could get four minutes for the price of three'. Mr Kelleher said the child 'was never asked for her age or ID'. He said the firm has no previous convictions, that the transaction took place and the child left the premises. Solicitor for the firm, John Casey, said the business has a number of notices placed across its premises saying 'No ID, no sunbed'. Mr Kelleher said there was a further inspection of the premises in April this year as there was a report of underage sales continuing. Mr Casey said on that date the company was found to be in compliance. Mr Kelleher said the test purchasers deployed by the HSE don't actually take the sunbed sessions. 'You would need danger money to do that,' the judge said. Mr Kelleher told the court that people aged under 35 who use sunbeds increase their risk of developing melanoma by 75 per cent. The judge said 'children should not be in these premises – that is very straightforward' and he imposed the €1,000 fine as a deterrent to ensure compliance. Asked about the level of enforcement activity under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act, a HSE spokesman said last month: 'In 2024, 10 fixed payment notices were served and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. 'Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and both were upheld by the court.'

Former assistant says Sean ‘Diddy' Combs was ‘extremely creative' on drugs
Former assistant says Sean ‘Diddy' Combs was ‘extremely creative' on drugs

Irish Examiner

timean hour ago

  • Irish Examiner

Former assistant says Sean ‘Diddy' Combs was ‘extremely creative' on drugs

A former college basketball player has claimed that Sean 'Diddy' Combs got 'extremely creative' when he was on drugs. The former player, who worked as a personal assistant, gave evidence at the music mogul's sex trafficking trial on Friday. Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony (Willy Sanjuan/AP) Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested last year at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he gave evidence with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a year and a half. Mr Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs investigation. Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of evidence from an array of witnesses ranging from ex-girlfriends and former employees to male sex workers and the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, even made a surprise appearance at the courthouse. The prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for two decades that relied on obedience by employees willing to do anything for him, including buying drugs when necessary. Defence lawyers say Combs did not commit federal crimes, although they acknowledge that prosecutors have exposed domestic violence during the trial. Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, made a surprise appearance at the courthouse (Michael R Sisak/AP) After pleading not guilty following his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel, Combs has been held without bail at a federal prison in Brooklyn. Prosecutors were expected to rest their case by Monday and the following defence presentation is expected to last from two to five days. Mr Paul said he bought drugs for Combs between five and 10 times, spending up to 500 dollars (£370) for drugs including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana. He said he only did drugs with Combs once, when the mogul asked him to try 'tusi', also known as pink cocaine, to see if it was good. Mr Paul said he did so because he 'wanted to prove my loyalty' and said he thought it was good. 'We continued on with our night,' he told assistant US attorney Christy Slavic. Sean 'Diddy' Combs (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Mr Paul said that prior to his arrest, he had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it while 'sweeping' Combs's room that morning and had accidentally left it in a bag he carried as he prepared to go on vacation with Combs and other aides. The charges were dismissed after Mr Paul completed a pre-trial diversion programme. Under questioning by defence lawyer Brian Steel, Mr Paul said his 'heart dropped' when he realised that there was cocaine in a travel bag after telling officers at the airport that everything in the bag belonged to him. Mr Steel asked Mr Paul if Combs was generally happy and didn't hurt anyone when he was on drugs. 'He got extremely creative,' Mr Paul responded. A view from the jury box is shown inside a federal courtroom similar to the room where the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' is being held (Jefferson Siegel /The New York Times via AP, Pool) At another point, Mr Steel asked: 'You would not work for a criminal, would you?' 'Absolutely not,' Mr Paul responded. Ms Slavic, though, elicited Mr Paul's mixed feelings about Combs just before he finished his evidence when the prosecutor asked him: 'Sitting here today, how do you feel about Mr Combs?' 'It's complicated,' he answered.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store