This article is from page 14 of the 2008-06-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A 20-year-old man from the Czech Republic has been charged in con- nection with a €45,000 haul of can- nabis in Ennis last week.
Michal Karchnak, of Lenabeg, La- hinch Road, Ennis, is charged with possession of cannabis resin and possession for sale or supply, at his
home, last Friday, June 13.
He was brought before a special sit- ting of Ennis District Court on Satur- day. Garda Stephen Hession told the court the accused did not make any reply, when charged at Ennis Garda Station the previous evening.
Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett sought bail for his client, who has lived with his mother in Ennis for
the past two years. He said that the case will be going forward for trial and there will be an “obvious delay” due to the preparation of the Book of Evidence.
He said the accused was co-op- erative with gardai and Gda Hession said that “certain admissions were made.”
Gda Hession told the court that
while the accused was in custody, he became aware that a bench warrant was in existence for him.
However, Mr Hassett said, “The bench warrant comes as a surprise to the defendant.”
Mr Hassett applied for free legal aid for the defendant, who works part-time as a stonemason. However the application was deferred until a
later date.
“He is from the Czech Republic. He’s going to meet this case fairly and squarely,” said the solicitor.
However, Inspector Tom Kennedy said the State would be opposing bail, based on the seriousness of the charges. Judge Joseph Mangan re- manded the accused in custody to re- appear in court later this month.