BREAKING: Three men and a woman in late night court sitting after €7m cannabis find in Kildare

Three men and a woman have appeared in court in connection with the discovery of an alleged €7m worth of cannabis in south Kildare this week.

Emre Ozdemier, 29, whose address was given as 23 Burrin Street, Carlow; Alex Forsyth, 33, whose address was given as 12 Dunedin Terrace, Monkstown Farm, Dublin; John Weekes, 38, whose address was given as  64 Branswood, Athy and Alanna Corrigan, 29, whose address was given as Crookstown Upper, Ballitore, Co Kildare. They face allegations of possessing cannabis and possessing it for sale or supply on April 1 at Crookstown Upper, Ballitore.

The initial hearing took place at a special late sitting of Naas District Court tonight.

Garda Kayleigh Milward said Mr Ozdemier was arrested at Crookstown Upper and he had hidden a ditch for over three hours before being found by a garda search dog and search team. Gda Milward said he was found in a deep dyke and the cannabis was located in a shed at the property.

The garda also said that some 350 kilos of cannabis herb was found and in a follow up search gardaí found tubs of benzocaine, said to a be a mixing agent.

A digital scales was also found at Mr Ozdemier’s address.

Defending solicitor Tim Kennelly said the defendant only uses cannabis to alleviate pain caused by a work accident and he only tried to leave the scene because there was a small amount of cannabis in his vehicle.

Garda Elaine Commins told of arresting Alex Forsyth and she alleged he made an admission about the shed being used to store cannabis and he is the occupier of the address.

She said the intelligence-led operation saw searches conducted at locations in Kildare and Carlow.

Solicitor David Powderly described the defendant as a mule who is on the lowest possible rung of the ladder and who only supplied four walls and a roof for storage by others.

Gda Commins claimed John Weekes was observed attempting to flee the scene and attempted to discard two phones while leaving. A wallet with documents belonging to him was found in a vehicle owned by Mr Ozdemier.

Barrister Richard Wixted said the only evidence against Mr Weeks was that he happened to be on the premises and "reacted in a rash way” when the gardaí arrived. He said he was there to retrieve a wallet. 

Ms Corrigan, who stated to be Mr Forsyth’s partner, was the only defendant to be granted bail subject to signing on conditions, providing a mobile phone number and surrendering her passport.

Judge Desmond Zaidan upheld garda objections to bail against the other three defendants.

All four will appear in court again on April 8.