A 61-year-old man charged with possession of €70,000 worth of cannabis in Mullingar has been returned to Cloverhill prison.
Peter Bowman of 23 Ushnagh Court, Mullingar was granted bail at Mullingar District Court requiring personal cash payment of half a €2,000 surety, plus and an independent person paying half of a €10,000 surety in cash.
The independent surety is to be approved by the court and that person must be resident in the State and have that sum of money in their account for at least the last 12 months. Mr Bowman, who has spent the last week in custody will remain in custody until those conditions are satisfied.
Prosecuting Garda David Mead objected to bail for a number of reasons, but when bail was granted, requested that Mr Bowman, who works nights driving a truck to Dublin supermarkets for a food company, sign on three times a week at Mullingar Garda Station.
The garda said he was satisfied Mr Bowman has been living in Mullingar since November 2007 and has been in full-time employment here with the same company since September of last year.
The court heard his job is being held for him and if he is successful in making bail, he will sign on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and his passport will remain with Gardaí.
He is not to associate with any known defendants in the State.
The court heard that he had moved to Ireland from the UK to start afresh after the death of his wife three years ago. His daughter who lives in Mullingar is his only connection in the State and she was present in court.
A file is being prepared for the DPP and a Book of Evidence is due to be served in November, if ready.
Garda Mead said the file and the Book would be prepared “as expeditiously as possible”. Further charges are pending.
Mr Bowman is charged under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act with possession of the drug for sale or supply at his address on September 21. The charge proposes a mandatory ten year sentence on conviction.
He will appear before Cloverhill District Court on October 15.
