Four men remanded after appearing in court charged over €31m cocaine seizure in Cork when van stopped & searched
Three of the four accused are British, while the fourth has an address in
4
Ben Sandford of Moray, Scotland arriving at Bandon District Court
Credit: Provision
4
Mark Doherty of Waterfoot Avenue, Glasgow was in court charged in connection with a €31m cocaine seizure
Credit: Provision
4
Christopher Hibbett of Truro, Cornwall is also charged
Credit: Provision
Earlier this week,
The men who appeared in court are 40-year old Mark Doherty, with an address at Waterfront Avenue, Glasgow; 41-year old Ben Sandfield, with an address at Moray in
All four face two charges each: possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry on Tuesday.
Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau to Judge Joanne Carroll.
Read more in News
Detective Garda John McWeeney said he arrested Mark Doherty and charged him with the two charges. He made no reply when charged.
Lawyer Plunkett Taaffe, defending, applied for free legal aid and said his client was not applying for bail at this time.
Judge Carroll said a statement of means must be provided before granting his application.
Detective Garda Marguerite Reilly said she arrested Levent Gulay and charged him with the two drugs charges on July 2 at 20.45 in Bandon Garda Station.
Most read in The Irish Sun
He made no reply. The services of a German interpreter were used both in the Garda Station and in the court this morning.
Lawyer Myra Dineen said there would be no bail application at this time, but there may be at a later date.
'SORRY'
Detective Garda Gavin Curran said he charged Christopher Hibbett and cautioned him.
He made no reply to possession of cocaine but replied to the charge of possession for sale or supply: 'I am f***ing sorry. That's it.'
Detective Garda Shane Kiely said he arrested and charged Ben Sanford who made no reply to the charges.
Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said he was seeking a remand in custody to Macroom District Court on July 9.
REMANDED
Judge Joanne Carroll said the State is to be provided with 48 hours notice of any applications for bail, and statements of means for all defendants requesting free legal aid was to be produced 24 hours in advance of court appearances to give the court time to consider the applications.
She remanded the four defendants in custody, which she said could be for no more than eight days.
They will all appear in Macroom District Court on July 9.
4
Levant Gulay of Neu Ulm, Germany at Bandon District Court
Credit: Provision
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Hopes for Madeleine McCann breakthrough as Brueckner could be kept in prison LONGER – giving cops vital time to nail him
MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner could face three extra months behind bars after the woman who paid his fine asked for her money back. The mystery donor - an ex-cop who 6 Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in Portugal Credit: PA 6 Christian Brueckner is believed to be the lead suspect in the girl's disappearance Credit: Dan Charity 6 Officials recently went on a renewed search for DNA evidence in Portugal Credit: Dan Charity But the former German FBI agent has now emailed prosecutors pleading she has made a 'mistake' - and begged for the funds to be returned to her. Officials are taking the request seriously and were last night looking at how the funds could be sent back. If they succeed it would secure crucial extra time for read more news Reports in Germany said: 'In an email to the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office, the former BKA employee is now demanding repayment of the money . 'She stated that she was unaware that Christian B. had been convicted in previous cases, including forgery.' The ex-cop is said to have told officials: "I therefore wish to contest my declaration of intent to repay the payment and invalidate the legal transaction accordingly." The payment cleared a 2016 Helmstedt District Court fine for drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents and a 2017 Braunschweig court levy for assault. Most read in The Sun Before the ex-cop paid the fine, The fine-payer insists she had "never had personal contact with Christian B." Mystery female donor who paid £1,300 fine to free Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner is former COP who investigated him Maddie prosecutors said it was investigating "the extent to which the payment received in the criminal case against Christian B. can actually be credited toward the fine imposed there." It stated that it had found evidence "that the payment was made by mistake." Brueckner will now walk free when his sentence for raping an American woman, 72, in Praia da Luz, in 2005, ends. He has been named publicly as the prime suspect over the May 3 2007 disappearance of Maddie, of Rothley, Leics., since 2020 but never been charged. He has used letters to deny the claims but has refused to answer police questions or provide an alibi. His phone was in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine vanished and made a 30-minute call from the area. His Jaguar was re-registered into a name the day after the disappearance. A Sun investigation this year revealed bombshell new evidence - including Brueckner's obsession with snatching and abusing small, young, blonde girls. 6 Brueckner appeared in court earlier this year over verbal assaults on prison guards Credit: Rob Pattinson 6 Maddie has now been missing for 18 years Credit: AFP 6 The search last week was focused on a handful of derelict building Credit: Dan Charity We also placed him at key police locations of interest, including a lake where cops dug for evidence. And we showed evidence he was at the scene of an al-but-confession when he allegedly said Maddie 'did not scream,' in 2008. Our probe - aired on Channel 4 - revealed the existence of a hard-drive and laptop containing crucial picture evidence on the case. Police maintain they have physical evidence Maddie is dead - but no forensic links. German police have recently stressed the value UK authorities could provide by getting involved in the case again before Brueckner's release. He has refused to rule out leaving Germany and insisted he will go to ground on his release. If he travelled to a non-extradition country all hopes for McCann justice could disappear with him. Timeline of Maddie's disappearance May 3, 2007 Madeleine McCann disappears from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a January 15, 2016 Neighbour reports a possible 'grave' at Brueckner's abandoned factory in East Germany. Cops find disturbing February 16, 2016 Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop. He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then. May 3, 2017 Around this time, He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner. September 27, 2018 On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy. He is extradited to Germany the following year. December 16, 2019 Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed. He was sentenced to seven years behind bars. June 4, 2020 German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann. For the first time they claim German media later name him as June 23, 2023 In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying 'she didn't scream' as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain. February 16, 2024 Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany. Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges. October 8, 2024 Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending. September 17, 2025 Date on which Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year - or over the McCann case. June 1, 2025 Police order a renewed search for clues in Praia Da Luz on the Algarve in Portugal. It lasts for just three days.
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Homeless charity worker ranted about terrorists on Luas while carrying knife
Anthony Brophy has spent most of his adult life homeless and featured in an RTE documentary about life on the streets A homeless charity worker, who began ranting at passengers about terrorists after armed gardaí intercepted him carrying a knife on Dublin's Luas, has been jailed. Anthony Brophy, 42, who has spent most of his adult life homeless featured in an RTE documentary about his life on the streets, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a knife, breach of the peace, failing to give gardaí his name and criminal damage to a garda station cell which he soiled with his own bodily fluids and filth on April 9, 2024. He was handed a six-month prison sentence and banned from using the Luas for two years by Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court on Thursday. In evidence, Garda Anna Toland said that the incident unfolded at around 9.50 pm after gardai were alerted about a man on the Luas red line, travelling inbound. She followed the tram, driving her patrol car along the tracks until Heuston station, and saw him on the tram before it continued to the Museum stop. A Garda armed support unit was notified and waiting When Garda Toland got there, the knife was on the ground, and Brophy, of Maxwell Street, Dublin 8, had been disarmed using soft arm techniques. However, he was verbally abusive, refusing to provide his name and 'shouting at people about terrorists' and saying 'what were they doing on the Luas and looking at him' The court heard that he was taken to Kevin Street Garda station and charged as 'unknown' because he would not disclose his name, which he withheld until he appeared in court the following day. Anthony Brophy News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3 Judge Hughes noted that when Brophy was kept overnight, he urinated, spat and defecated in a holding cell. The court heard he had 25 prior convictions, including one incident where he was caught carrying three knives on a date in 2017. However, he had never received a prison sentence. Judge Hughes inquired about the circumstances of how the knife was detected. Garda Toland said the ASU officers informed her Brophy had it in the buckle of his belt or down his trousers when they met him. State Solicitor Rory Staines confirmed a member of the public reported a knife being brandished, but with no witness or evidence to support it, Brophy was charged only with possession. It was not in open view when the ASU arrived. Paul Larkin Coyle BL, defending, told the court his client is going to be a father to his first child later this year. Counsel informed the judge that Brophy now worked as a security guard but was also training for a job in construction, and wants to provide stability for his child and contribute to society. Counsel described Brophy's experience of being homeless for 25 years as desolate, but detailed his involvement with charities to publicly assist in providing accommodation to others, and a pro-social lifestyle now. Anthony Brophy Stressing positive developments, counsel said his client featured in an RTE documentary on the homeless crisis, which helped him to get accommodation. The barrister said Brophy was employed as a fisherman at the time and, coming home from work, still had the knife, and it should never have happened. However, the judge, having been shown the blade, did not accept that as a reason. 'It is not a situation where he had just walked off the beach with a fishing rod and a knife, he was travelling on the Luas with a knife in his hand,' he remarked. Brophy stood silently throughout the hearing. Judge Hughes noted all the factors, including the previous offending, and cited the Justice Minister that there should be an expectation of a possible prison sentence for knife crime. He had set a headline sentence of nine months but suspended the final three while ordering Brophy to attend anger management counselling and remain on supervised probation for two years.
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Four men charged over €31m cocaine seizure in Co Cork
Four men have appeared before Bandon District Court charged in connection with Tuesday's €31 million cocaine seizure. Three of the four are British and the fourth has an address in Germany. All four face two charges each: possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry, Co Cork, on Tuesday. The four are 40-year old Mark Doherty, with an address at Waterfront Avenue, Glasgow, and 39-year old Ben Sanford, with an address at Moray in Scotland; 31-year old Levent Gulay, with an address in Bavaria, Germany, and 44-year old Christopher Hibbett from Cornwall in England. Detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence to the court of arresting and charging the four men. Three of them did not reply when the charges were put to them. There were no applications for bail, and Judge Joanne Carroll remanded all four in custody. They will be back before Macroom District Court next Wednesday. Detectives from the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau have also identified the mothership which was used to transport the cocaine from South America, across the Atlantic to the Irish coastline. The ship's crew have been interviewed. No arrests have been made.
