Trial date set for pilot accused over €8.5 cocaine seizure
A Polish pilot charged over a seizure of about €8.5m of cocaine allegedly flown into the midlands in 2022 will go on trial in November.
Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) officers, supported by other units, monitored a Cessna single-engine aircraft landing at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, County Longford, shortly after 6pm on August 4, 2022.
Later that evening, they intercepted two vehicles in the Lough Owel area in County Westmeath, recovering 120 kilogrammes of cocaine from one car.
Officers arrested Tim Gilchrist, 56, of Mavis Bank, Newrath, Waterford and pilot Michal Luczak, 43, a Polish national, formerly with an address at Primrose Avenue, Jigginstown, Naas, County Kildare, and now living in Skerries, Dublin.
Mr Luczak, who has lived in Ireland for 17 years, was charged with possessing drugs worth €13,000 at the Abbeyshrule Aerodrome on August 4, 2022.
The father of two remains on bail and has indicated he would plead not guilty.
He appeared before Judge Keenan Johnson at this week’s sessions of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Johnson heard Mr Luczak’s jury trial was expected to last two weeks.
He scheduled it to commence on November 26 but ordered that the matter could also be listed for mention a week beforehand.
The father of two was remanded on continuing bail.
Mr Gilchrist, who has not applied for bail since his arrest, appeared at the same court on March 1, when he pleaded guilty to possessing drugs worth €13,000 for sale or supply at Lough Owel, Irishtown, County Westmeath, on the date of his arrest.
The offence can attract a 10-year sentence.
Michael O’Higgins, SC, defending, had said his client had no prior convictions, and he applied for an adjournment to prepare documentation about his client’s good character for the next hearing.
Judge Johnson remanded Mr Gilchrist in custody to appear again on July 2 for sentence but did not think it necessary to seek a probation report at that stage.
Garda evidence and a mitigation plea will also be heard at his next court appearance.