Two Ballybofey brothers have appeared in court in connection with a €2.2million cannabis seizure.
Patrick McGinty, a 38-year-old, and 30-year-old Michael McGinty, each with an address at Carrickmagrath, Ballybofey, were brought before Judge Ciaran Liddy at Letterkenny District Court on Thursday afternoon.
Each of the men were charged with being in possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another, contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 and section 27 (3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 as substituted by section 6 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984.
The two men are also charged with being in possession of cannabis.
Neither man spoke during the brief hearing.
Sergeant Maurice Doyle said there was consent to bail provided certain conditions were agreed.
The two men, who appeared wearing work trousers and boots, were both granted bail, but have had to surrender their passports and must sign on at a garda station three times a week.
The siblings were arrested following a swoop on a premises in the Ballybofey area by officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue’s Custom Service on Tuesday.
Revenue officers seized approximately 112kgs of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of €2.2 million, in the raid.
Revenue seize herbal cannabis worth over €2.2 million in Donegal
Having been held for questioning at Letterkenny Garda Station, the men were charged on Thursday afternoon.
Garda Deirdre Connolly gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Michael McGinty at 1.33pm at Letterkenny Garda Station. He made no reply when charged, the court heard.
Garda Christopher Sweeney gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Patrick McGinty at 1.29pm. He also made no reply to the charges.
Mr Rory O’Brien, solicitor for Michael McGinty, said his client will contest the charges against him.
“He denies any wrongdoing,” Mr O’Brien said. Mr O’Brien said he was very keen that the State “expedites matters as quickly as possible”.
Patrick McGinty was represented by solicitor Ms Donna Ponsonby.
Legal aid was granted to each of the accused.
Judge Liddy adjourned the case until June for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).