Latest news with #O'Mara
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Ex Ryanair pilot charged over €10m drugs find ‘having material independently analysed'
Brendan O'Mara (62) of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his fifth court appearance A lawyer for a former Ryanair pilot charged in connection with the possession of more than €10m of cannabis has told a court that he is in the process of having the material independently analysed. At Ennis District Court today, solicitor Ted McCarthy said that the independent analysis of the material will help determine a bail application for Brendan O'Mara. Brendan O'Mara (62) of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his fifth court appearance concerning the Garda seizure of an estimated €10m in cannabis at Mr Mara's south east Clare home on May 7th. Mr O'Mara was today appearing in court via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused Mr O'Mara bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on May 10th following Garda objections. Sgt John Burke said today that the Garda investigation is complex and 'involved the seizure of €10m worth of cannabis'. He said that two Gardai are employed full time on the investigation and that it involves international inquiries and ongoing inquiries into devices that were also seized. Mr McCarthy said: 'I take on board what the State has said. We ourselves are in the process of having the material independently analysed.' He said: 'Dependent on the outcome of that will determine our bail application which is imminent, it has to be said, and the State is aware of that.' Mr O'Mara faces two charges - possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis, on May 7th. At the contested bail hearing on May 10th, Gardaí told the court Mr O'Mara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that 'further, and more serious charges' may be brought against him in respect of the case where Gardai seized an estimated 502 kg in cannabis. Sergeant Rob Sheehy of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit, said he was objecting to bail because of the 'strength and nature of the evidence' as well as the high value of the drugs. He told the court that the Garda investigation was in its 'infancy', but he said gardai believed that 'it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established'. He claimed Mr O'Mara was also a flight risk, due to his 'aeronautical knowledge', that he has a number of pilots licences, and has links to the USA. Applying for bail on May 10th, solicitor Tara Godfrey, said the accused has 'three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and a EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence', and he would 'hand over' his licences to the State and not leave the country. 'His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,' Ms Godfrey said. Ms Godfrey said a sister of Mr O'Mara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000. Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody Ms Godfrey said Mr O'Mara 'has offered up all the means he could to leave this country' and has significant ties here. She said: 'He enjoys the presumption of innocence.' Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O'Mara in custody to re-appear at Ennis District Court on July 9th and said that if he secures bail in the meantime that he must appear in person.
Sunday World
11-06-2025
- Sunday World
Former Ryanair pilot charged in connection with €10m drug seizure has bail application pending
Mr O'Mara was today appearing in court via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison A former Ryanair pilot who is charged in connection with the possession of more than €10m worth of drugs has an application for bail pending before the High Court, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court today, Brendan O'Mara (62) of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his fourth court appearance concerning the Garda seizure of an estimated €10m in cannabis at Mr Mara's south east Clare home on May 7th. Mr O'Mara was today appearing in court via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused Mr O'Mara bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on May 10th following Garda objections. From his prison booth today, Mr O'Mara said 'I can, yes' when asked if he could see and hear the court and confirmed his name as 'Brendan O'Mara'. Judge Gabbett asked if there was any news on DPP directions and Sgt Frank O'Grady said that DPP directions are still outstanding. Solicitor for Mr O'Mara, Ted McCarthy said: 'There is a bail application pending before the High Court and I am hoping that will be resolved shortly.' Mr McCarthy asked that the case be adjourned for two weeks and Judge Gabbett said that if Mr O'Mara does secure High Court bail in the meantime he must turn up to court in person on June 25th. At the end of the brief hearing, Mr O'Mara said: 'Thank you, bye, bye.' Mr O'Mara faces two charges - possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis, on May 7th. At the contested bail hearing on May 10th, Gardaí told the court Mr O'Mara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that 'further, and more serious charges' may be brought against him in respect of the case where Gardai seized an estimated 502 kg in cannabis. Sergeant Rob Sheehy of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit, said he was objecting to bail because of the 'strength and nature of the evidence' as well as the high value of the drugs. Brendan O'Mara. Photo: Eamon Ward News in 90 Seconds - June 11th He told the court that the Garda investigation was in its 'infancy', but he said gardai believed that 'it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established'. He claimed Mr O'Mara was also a flight risk, due to his 'aeronautical knowledge', that he has a number of pilots licenses, and has links to the USA. Applying for bail on May 10th, solicitor Tara Godfrey, said the accused has 'three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and a EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence', and he would 'hand over' his licences to the State and not leave the country. 'His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,' Ms Godfrey said. Ms Godfrey said a sister of Mr O'Mara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000. Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody Ms Godfrey said Mr O'Mara 'has offered up all the means he could to leave this country' and has significant ties here. She said: 'He enjoys the presumption of innocence.' Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O'Mara in custody to re-appear at Ennis District Court on June 25th.
The Journal
29-04-2025
- The Journal
'Huge shortage' in specialist Garda unit for serious road crashes leaving it 'snowed under'
A SPECIALIST GARDA unit to examine road crashes is suffering a 'huge shortage' of personnel, leaving it 'snowed under' amid a rise in traffic incidents across Ireland. The annual conference for rank and file gardaí heard that it has also meant investigators are 'potentially losing evidence' as they may have arrived to the scene of a crash the day after it happened, with weather among the issues affecting the scene. The Forensic Collision Investigators unit is not even at half strength, with 11 qualified members when the minimum recommended number is for 24. At its annual conference in Killarney, the Garda Representatives Association (GRA) union voted overwhelmingly to call on the Garda Commissioner to urgently address the shortage in Forensic Collision Investigators nationwide. A total of 54 people have died on Irish roads so far this year. The motion also seeks for An Garda Síochána to draft a policy to 'ensure the highest standards are maintained in fatal collision and life altering' collision investigations. The Garda body conference heard that a recruitment campaign 'collapsed' late last year, with one serving Garda who went through the process blasting it as 'shambolic'. Tipperary-based Forensic Collision Investigator Chris O'Mara told The Journal that it has become increasingly common for him and his colleagues in the region to have to travel to as far as Donegal to respond to fatal and serious crashes to plug the gap. He said he has found himself needing to get on the road at 3am to make it to the scene of a crash some 250km away, often on roads that must remain closed until the forensic work has taken place. 'We're one of the few areas in the Garda Síochána that's seeking more oversight,' O'Mara said. 'We want more management. The senior National Forensic collision investigator, that role has been vacant since he resigned in 2023. So for more than two years now, we've had no senior forensic collision investigator in the country. Advertisement 'It's a very simple fix this,' O'Mara said. 'We're calling for proper numbers of specifically trained and qualified experts that can do it.' Recruitment process hadn't met standards The conference heard that Garda management sent a brief note to applicants on 23 December last to tell them that the competition 'hadn't met standards' and been stopped. Asked for comment, the Garda Press Office said that a preliminary process is currently underway prior to 'announcing a new competition' for Forensic Collision Investigators in the near future. Shane Bonner, a Garda serving in the traffic unit of Dublin South Central, proposed the motion at the GRA conference. He told reporters that he brought the motion forward as he felt that gardaí are 'not doing the best that we can' when it comes to serious collisions. Bonner said this means that following a fatal accident, people are left 'waiting for answers' but the 'workload is so heavy' that it's causing delays to the reports produced on serious road incidents. Garda Shane Bonner brought the motion to the GRA conference in Co Kerry. CONOR Ó MEARÁIN CONOR Ó MEARÁIN 'We're seeing a huge shortage of FCIs, the forensic collision investigators. People are waiting for answers,' he said. He further pointed the finger at senior Garda management, saying they were responsible for the 'failure' in staffing the forensic collision investigators unit. 'We're potentially losing evidence, we're leaving scenes closed for longer,' Bonner said. He said this could impact on personal injury cases as people who suffer 'traumatic' injuries may find their claims affected by the delays as well. 'We're not doing the best that we can, we aren't giving the service that we need to be giving,' Bonner said. 'One member last year did 18 fatal accidents, the recommended number is five to six in a year,' Bonner continued. 'So he has three times the workload. How do you produce proper files and proper investigations, to the coroners court, to the family, to everyone that deserves the proper information,' Bonner said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OhioHealth collaborating with Ad Council to tackle gun violence
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Central Ohio hospital system is teaming up with the Ad Council to tackle gun violence -especially when it comes to children. The joint effort aims to spark important conversations between healthcare workers, educators, and families, all with the goal of preventing firearm-related injuries. As part of the initiative, OhioHealth is partnering with the Ad Council to launch a series of public service announcements addressing gun violence and firearm-related deaths. The campaign also features a new resource aimed at helping parents, teachers, and healthcare providers have meaningful conversations about safety and preventing violence. 'This is so important as a health issue crisis in a public health issue that we had to come together and say something we had do something outside of politics outside of laws, but about the safety of children,' Ohio Health Trauma Surgeon Shay O'Mara tells NBC4. For two decades Dr. O'Mara has worked in the high stress field of trauma surgery. He tells NBC4 the prevalence of youth being involved in one that needs to end. 'The number one cause of death under the age of 17 is gunshot wounds and gunshot injuries,' O'Mara says. 'Something has to be done, and we have to do it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
15-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
OhioHealth joins national youth gun violence prevention campaign
The OhioHealth hospital system has joined over a dozen other health care organizations to form a national initiative to prevent youth gun violence. Why it matters: Firearms have been the leading cause of death for U.S. children ages 1-17 for three years in a row. Driving the news: The newly formed " Agree to Agree" campaign will share tangible actions that individuals and communities can take to reduce firearm injuries among children and teens. The big picture: Agree to Agree aims to "comprehensively address" the issue of gun violence with an apolitical message focusing as much on suicide and unintentional shootings as intentional shootings. Despite suicides making up the majority of gun deaths in America, Shay O'Mara, clinical VP of surgery for OhioHealth Clinical Enterprise, tells Axios that "people aren't talking about potential suicide and potential accidental injuries. All we hear about in the news is homicides." By the numbers: OhioHealth says it treated 423 gunshot wounds last year at its Central Ohio trauma centers and emergency departments. Between the lines: Unlike some movements based around legislation or political change, Agree to Agree is focusing largely on branding and marketing to reach common ground. The nonprofit Ad Council will lead outreach efforts, which O'Mara says is a crucial part of the program. "If you look back at their history — Smokey the Bear, drug campaigns, all the other things they've done — they have actually moved things forward and made a difference because it started a conversation and brought public awareness." Friction point: The campaign's coalition also includes gun owners, and O'Mara says "nobody's interested in" talking about banning or taking any guns. "We're not talking about owning or not owning a gun, we're talking about that gun being used on a child." Zoom in: Partner organizations are leading their own local outreach efforts. OhioHealth's first program will be a lock box giveaway at Grant Medical Center in June, which is Gun Violence Awareness Month.
