A Nenagh fireman, whose locker was found to contain cocaine to the value of €78,000, has been found not guilty of possession of the aforementioned drug and related charges.
Mr Michael Morgan, a fireman, aged 43, with an address at Cluain Muillean, Nenagh, was acquitted by a jury at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court today, on all three charges brought against and denied by him.
Mr Morgan had been accused of:
* One count of possession of cocaine,
* One count of possession of cocaine for sale and supply
* One count of possession of cocaine worth €13,000.
The charges laid against him, if found guilty, carried a mandatory minimum ten-year prison sentence.
His friend and co-accused, Mr John Walsh, a plasterer, aged 36, of Coille Bheithe, Nenagh, was found guilty by the same jury, of possession of cocaine; together with possession of cocaine for sale or supply. He was, however, acquitted of possessing cocaine worth €13,000 or more, contrary to ‘section 15(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act.’
The Court heard that cocaine worth €78,000 was found, wrapped in individual plastic bags, in a lunchbox in Mr Morgan’s locker, at Nenagh Fire Station. Same was located during a routine inspection of staff lockers, back in January 2018.
Both the accused men were long time friends; with both holding licensed firearms for the purpose of hunting together.
Mr Walsh was unable to explain, satisfactorily, how a sample of his deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was located and identified, on a knot, on one of the individual plastic bags, which contained the cocaine, and could not remember ever being inside Nenagh Fire Station, unless brought there through his school.
The court also heard that at least 30 other individuals had similar access to the same locker room area.
Mr Walsh was today remanded on continuing bail, to appear before Nenagh Circuit Court, for sentencing this day week, Thursday, February 9th 2023.
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