Latest news with #bailapplication
BreakingNews.ie
25-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Ex-Ryanair pilot charged over €10m cannabis seizure to have material independently analysed, lawyer says
A lawyer for a former Ryanair pilot charged in connection with the possession of more than €10 million of cannabis has told a court that he is in the process of having the material independently analysed. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, solicitor Ted McCarthy said the independent analysis of the material would help determine a bail application for Brendan O'Mara. Advertisement Mr O'Mara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his fifth court appearance concerning the Garda seizure of cannabis worth an estimated €10m at Mr O'Mara's Clare home on May 7th. The pilot appeared in court on Wednesday 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 on Wednesday that the Garda investigation was complex and 'involved the seizure of €10 million worth of cannabis'. He said two gardaí are employed full-time on the investigation and that it involves international inquiries and ongoing inquiries into devices that were also seized. Advertisement 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 added: '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 gardaí seized an estimated 502kg of cannabis. Advertisement 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 gardaí 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', but he would hand these over to the State and not leave the country. Advertisement 'His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,' Ms Godfrey said. Ireland Football supporters' Ryanair Dublin flight disrupt... Read More 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.
The Herald
11-06-2025
- The Herald
‘This is not a rehearsal for trial' — magistrate in Evans case
'A bail application is not a rehearsal for trial.' These were the words of magistrate Deidre Dickson in the Humansdorp Regional Court on Wednesday morning. Dickson said for the past three weeks she had cleared her criminal and civil rolls, often sat through lunch and tea breaks, and sometimes ended court late to accommodate murder accused Rob Evans' application for bail. Evans is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg, 36, at his Oyster Bay holiday home over the Easter weekend. And while Dickson stood firm in her views from Tuesday that 'speculation will not assist the court to decide on bail', for the sake of not wasting any more time, she gave defence attorney Paul Roelofse the floor to continue with his line of questioning. Roelofse had been busy with his cross-examination of investigating officer Warrant Officer Xolile Kato on Tuesday when Dickson interjected. After Roelofse raised questions about possible alternative suspects, or how someone else could have entered the house where Van Rensburg's body was ultimately found, Dickson said speculation would not assist her in deciding if Evans should be granted bail. A visibly frustrated Roelofse had then asked for an adjournment to consider his position. Later in the day, he returned to the courtroom with a fresh application to formally challenge the magistrate's ruling. Roelofse argued that questions about locked doors and potential entry without force were crucial to ensuring a fair bail application for his client. Delivering her ruling on Wednesday, Dickson said: 'A bail application is not a criminal trial, it is also not a rehearsal for trial. 'Speculation will not assist the court to decide on bail. If this were a trial and bail had been finalised, then this would have been a different [scenario].' She said the bail application was already in its third week. 'This court will not unreasonably cut short or restrict cross-examination. 'The test here is the prima facie evidence. The court doesn't want to prolong the matter unnecessarily even further. 'Be that is it may, Mr Roelofse, I don't want to waste any more time, I have stated what the situation is. 'If you want to put more scenarios in front of the court then so be it, but let's finalise this matter. 'Everyone in this court needs this application to come to an end now.' The matter was postponed to Friday. The Herald
The Herald
06-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
Sangoma implicated in toddler's murder makes U-turn on bail
The sangoma who was arrested in connection with the premeditated murder of two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba has made an about-turn and wants to apply for bail. Sebokoana Khoanyana, 50, made a brief appearance on Thursday and his matter was postponed to June 25 for a formal bail application. Khoanyana appeared alongside Kutlwano's mother, Keneiwe Shalaba, 33, who is accused of lying about her son's disappearance in November 2024. Shalaba is also facing charges of premeditated murder. Khoanyana had initially requested that an attorney be made available so that he could plead guilty but was advised by the court that it was not the right time to plead. His lawyer, Gladmore Nyamande, said his client had a previous conviction of assault in 2019, which he believes was withdrawn. He was also convicted of possession of dagga but got a suspended sentence. Speaking to reporters shortly after the matter was postponed, Nyamande said: 'On his first appearance, he was not aware of his legal rights when he told the court that he wanted to plead guilty. 'According to his rights, the first thing he needs to do is to apply for bail and this matter will go further than the magistrate's court. We are not at the stage [of the trial] for him to plead guilty. He is flip-flopping; we don't know. When we come back, he might say he wants to abandon bail. 'On the day [of his first appearance] he just thought that by appearing and saying he wanted to plead, then the whole matter would be finished,' he said.
The Herald
20-05-2025
- The Herald
Man accused of Collegiate pupil's murder details events of fateful day
News Premium By Simtembile Mgidi - 20 May 2025 A formal bail application for only one of the men accused of murdering a Gqeberha high school pupil and her mother got under way on Tuesday. Double murder accused Nceba Maji, 44, appeared in the Gqeberha magistrate's court alongside his co-accused, Sibulele Mzilikazi, 28, and Siyabonga Ntswahlana, 35...
