Three men in court over Carrigans cannabis raid

Three men arrested in connection with the recovery of up almost half a million euro worth of cannabis at a house in Carrigans appeared at Letterkenny District Court yesterday.

Dissident republicans are being linked to a cannabis factory which was raided by Gardaí outside the village of Killea.

Following a lengthy surveillance operation, a large number of Gardaí swooped on the dormer type bungalow in the townland of Kildrum Lower at around 5pm wedensday 13th of January.

The raid was carried out in conjunction with two other linked swoops made the same day in Louth and Tipperary.

Superintendent Vincent O'Brien of Letterkenny Garda Station refused to be drawn on reports that dissident Republicans may be involved. However, sources told the Donegal News that a dissident republican gang in Derry were suspected of being involved in the Killea operation.

The source described Derry city as a 'hotbed' for dissident republican activists and sympathisers.

Killea is located on the border with Derry and in recent years has become a satellite town of Derry.

Supt O'Brien said the cannabis factory was a 'highly sophisticated' operation which used plant cultivation using a hydroponics system.

Cannabis hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in either a bath or flow of highly oxygenated and nutrient enriched water without the need for soil.

"We entered the house and found a highly sophisticated set-up using high powered lamps.

"All of the upstairs rooms in the house had been converted and we seized more than 1,200 plants in various stages of growth from six inches to five feet in height."

He said they considered the find a huge success in their ongoing battle against drugs in Donegal.

Supt O'Brien said there had been a number of follow up operations around the country and, while no drugs were found, Gardaí discovered further evidence to link them up with the Donegal house.

The large house, which has been under construction for the past three years, was under armed guard yesterday while a team from the Garda Forensics Technical Bureau carried out an examination. It is believed the electricity supply to the house was bypassed by means of a direct line to a nearby ESB mains power line.

34-year-old Neville Leech with an address at Pearse Park, Drogheda; 30-year old Niel Stewart Closs of The Caravan, Milestone, Cummer, Co Tipperary and Brian Irwin (29) of The Orchard, Croke Gardens, Thurles, Tipperary, were arrested at Kildrum Lower, Carrigans on January 13 and all were charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply.

Garda Inspector Denis Joyce said the trio were detained in connection with the haul of drugs that have an estimated street value of e452,000.

Solicitor Patsy Gallagher requested legal aid for his three clients who all claimed to be unemployed.

The men previously appeared at Carrick-On-Shannon District Court as gardaí sought extend there time in detention to further their investigation.

Each of the men were ordered to surrender their passport, sign on weekly at their local garda stations, and bail was set at €5,000 cash with €10,000 in independent surety.

Source: http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/DN/free/296358612257301.php