CANNABIS SEIZED | 

Man caught with copper pipes filled with drugs outside Dublin jail, court told

Gardai stopped the accused and searched him, finding two copper pipes containing cannabis valued at €620, it was alleged.

Today at 08:51

A YOUNG man was caught approaching a Dublin prison with copper pipes full of cannabis intended for an inmate, it is alleged.

Alan Clarke (22) is accused of having the drugs on wasteland near Wheatfield prison in the west of the city.

The case against him was adjourned when he appeared in Blanchardstown District Court.

Mr Clarke, with an address at Markievicz House, Dublin 2 is charged with placing a controlled drug into a place outside a prison with the intention that it come into possession of a person in prison.

The offence is alleged to have happened on May 13 this year. Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said the DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the district court subject to the judge considering the issue of jurisdiction.

Outlining the prosecution’s case, she said it was alleged gardai saw Mr Clarke entering wasteland close to the prison on Cloverhill Road.

Gardai stopped the accused and searched him, finding two copper pipes containing cannabis valued at €620, it was alleged.

Judge David McHugh accepted jurisdiction, allowing the case to remain in the district court instead of being sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

He ordered disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence, noting that there might be CCTV footage from the area.

The accused was remanded on continuing bail to appear in court again on a date in February, when he will be expected to indicate how he intends to plead to the charge, which is under the Misuse of Drugs Act.