‘Half-completed directions’ in alleged Kildare €106,000 cannabis case criticised
CONTESTED
A solicitor in Naas District Court on Thursday, January 5 slammed the 'half-completed directions' for a case involving a suspected haul of cannabis worth €106,000.
David Powderly made the comments while defending his client Thomas Harrington, with an address listed as 5 Ruanbeg Close in Kildare town.
It was heard on a previous court date that the 39-year-old was alleged to have kept the suspected haul at his home on February9, 2022, and is involved in a vape business.
He continued to deny that the haul was cannabis, and insisted that it was actually another substance which was obtained completely legally.
A money-laundering charge was also levelled against the defendant on the latest court date.
Mr Powderly took issue with the fact that gardaí were still waiting on directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
When gardaí said that a certificate of analysis confirmed that the substance was cannabis, Mr Powderly replied that he wants to see the certificate, and criticised what he referred to as 'half-completed directions’ in the case.
He applied for a strike-out, but this was denied by Judge Desmond Zaidan, who said that money laundering investigations are complex, and take time to complete.
The judge granted bail for Mr Harrington until the case returns to court on May 18.