‘COMPLEX CASE’ | 

Dad-of-seven (60) accused of hiding €2m of cannabis in his truck has bail relaxed

Paul Lennon (60) was stopped in Dublin Port last August by gardaí, who found the drugs “elaborately” concealed in the trailer roof.

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Prosecutors have been given more time to prepare their case against a truck driver accused of having nearly €2m worth of cannabis in a trailer while transporting fruit and vegetables.

Father-of-seven Paul Lennon (60) was stopped in Dublin Port last August by gardaí, who found the drugs “elaborately” concealed in the trailer roof, a court heard.

At Mr Lennon’s latest appearance before Dublin District Court, Judge Monika Leech adjourned the case to next month for DPP directions after hearing it was a “complex investigation”.

The accused, from Punchbowl, Gort, Co Galway, is charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply at Dublin Port on August 25, 2023.

The prosecution sought more time for DPP directions and it was anticipated that the investigation file would be submitted soon.

Judge Leech relaxed the accused’s bail conditions to reduce his requirements to sign on at a garda station.

Previously, at a contested bail hearing, Garda Gavin Curran said gardaí had been in receipt of confidential information that a crime group were using a Galway-registered truck to bring a large quantity of drugs from Cherbourg to Dublin Port.

A truck driven by Mr Lennon was intercepted by customs and detained for examination.

It was X-rayed by a scanning machine, which showed an anomaly in the roof.

This was a sophisticated and “elaborate concealment” of man-made steel trays spanning the length of the 40-foot trailer, the court heard.

The garda said the trays contained 189 half-kilo packages of cannabis, with an estimated combined value of €1.9m.

Mr Lennon was granted bail. He has not yet entered a plea to the charge.