The trial of two Galway men accused of directing a criminal organisation yesterday heard a glossary of slang allegedly used by the men on surveillance tapes.
Michael O’Loughlin (31 ) of Rahylin Glebe, Ballybane and Eddie O’Loughlin (28 ) of Rockfield Park, Rahoon, have both pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to directing the activities of a criminal organisation in the Galway area between February 10 and June 1, 2010.
Garda Sean Durkin was asked by prosecuting counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, to explain the meaning of various slang words that the jury will hear during alleged surveillance recordings of the accused.
He told the court that a number of different words were used to describe cocaine, including chalk, Charlie, white, snow, powder, line and white paint.
Gda Durken said that slang words were also used for various weights, including key or box for kilo, oze for ounce, q for quarter and Henry for an eight of an ounce.
When asked to explain the use of Henry, he replied: "as in Henry VIII".
"Green is cannabis, grass or pollen, steel is a firearm, chat is an object, juice is €200, monkey is €100," he added.
Under cross examination by defence counsel, Martin Giblin SC, he was asked if he watched much American television.
”Do you watch programmes like The Sopranos? Films like The Godfather are you a fan of those?" counsel asked.
Garda Durkin said that he was a fan and Mr Giblin asked: "Can I suggest that you might have watched too much of them?"
Garda Durkin replied: "No, my parents were quite strict."
Chief Superintendent Thomas Curley of Galway city Garda Station gave evidence that he obtained authorisation from the District Court to place listening devices in two cars connected to the accused. He said a third device was placed in the car of a girlfriend of one of the accused.
Garda Brian Mulderrig gave evidence that he was on surveillance duty on March 5, 2010 and observed Eddie O’Loughlin driving one of the cars at 8.47pm. He said there were two other men in the car who got out shortly afterwards and went into a shop.
When the two men exited the shop they got into a taxi. Gda Mulderrig said they were later stopped and searched and found with two packages believed to contain cannabis.
Day one of the trial heard that conversations recorded using audio devices placed inside cars will be used to prove that two Galway men are guilty of directing a criminal organisation, the court was told.
Opening the trial for the prosecution at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Dominic McGinn SC said that the jury will hear recordings of conversations of the two men which the State claim would link them to the organisation of criminal activities.
He said that in February 2010 gardai began recording conversations in the Toyota Avensis used by Edward O’Loughlin and on May 14 2010 they began listening into a car registered to the partner of Michael O’Loughlin.
Mr McGinn said that the gardai would give evidence of routine traffic stops and other surveillance carried out by them which they say confirms that the voices heard on the recordings are those of the two accused.
It is the State’s case that the conversations link the men to a number of specific offences, including burglaries and the seizure of controlled drugs.
Counsel said gardai believed that the accused men were instrumental in making these offenses happen and the pair were arrested on June 1, 2010.
Mr McGinn said the State will prove that a criminal organisation was in place and that the two accused were directing it and giving orders.
He said that the law defined a criminal organisation as a “structured group, however organised, that has as its main purpose or activity the commission or facilitation of a serious offence” and that directing a criminal organisation is defined as “controlling or supervising the activities or giving an order, instruction or guidance, or makes a request, with respect to the carrying on of the activities”.
The trial, which is set to last three months, continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of eight men and four women.
