A full-time employee of Dublin City Council has been denied bail after €2.6 million worth of suspected cocaine was uncovered at his home address and a storage unit.
Robert Murphy (36) of Dunsink Green, Finglas, Dublin 11, appeared before Dublin Metropolitan District Court this morning, charged with six offences contrary to Sections 15 and 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 for the possession of drugs, and possession for sale and supply.
The accused was arrested yesterday as part of Garda Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, launched by the Garda Commissioner in July 2021.
According to An Garda Síochána, the focus of Operation Tara is to “disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels – international, national, local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.”
Judge Connor Fottrell was told that the arrest occurred after the Dublin Crime Response Team searched two properties in Coolock and Finglas.
Garda Philip Lavery from the Dublin Crime Response Unit opposed bail in respect of the accused, who was arrested alongside another man.
The objections arose from the seriousness of the alleged offences, with Garda Lavery arguing that the accused is a “significant and trusted operative” in an “international drug trafficking organisation”. He argued that, if Murphy were granted bail, he would likely destroy evidence, as he was allegedly using disappearing messages as part of his activities.
The court heard that the accused identified himself on CCTV at a “handover location” where he allegedfy passed the suspected drugs to the other accused.
Lavery argued that Murphy is a “significant and integral member of a sophisticated crime network” and that the seizure of the suspected drugs constitutes a “significant loss” to this organisation, which would likely “compel” him to continue his alleged activities to compensate for the loss.
Defending counsel Ciara Murray BL pleaded for bail, arguing that her client is a “full-time employee” of Dublin City Council, a father of two children, has a stable address he shares with his wife, has no previous convictions, and is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
She argued that Murphy would agree to sign on daily, telling Judge Fottrell that there was “no reason” not to admit him to bail.
Garda Lavery countered, saying that Murphy’s “full-time role” is the “transportation” and “storage” of drugs for an “OCG” [organised crime gang].
Lavery continued that Murphy is “an autonomous man”, adding “his wife is not his keeper” and that he was not satisfied that she would prevent her husband from committing additional offences.
Having heard the facts, Judge Fottrell said that the State had made its case against the accused being admitted to bail and ordered that Murphy be remanded in custody.
“It is the view of the Garda that there is the potential here to evade justice by destroying some of the evidence,” he said.
An application for legal aid was made; however, Garda Lavery argued that the salary of a full-time council employee would exceed the threshold for this. The matter of the legal aid application was adjourned until the next court appearance.