A 60-YEAR-OLD man who pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply after €1.4million worth of the drug was seized in Limerick has been remanded on bail for sentencing.
Charles Magill, of Knockainey, Hospital, County Limerick, was arrested in May 2022 after the €1.4m cocaine haul was recovered by Gardaí in a series of planned searches at locations in Ardnacrusha, County Clare and Knockainey and Lisnagry in Limerick.
The planned operation was part of a joint sweep under Operation Coronation and Operation Tara, which target the activities of drug dealing.
Judge Tom O’Donnell remanded Mr Magill on continuing bail for sentencing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on April 11.
Vincent Collopy (44), of St Ita’s Street in St Mary’s Park, Limerick City, was charged with impeding or obstructing Garda Ryan Hill in his duty arising out of the same investigation on the same day in May 2022.
A previous sitting of Limerick District Court heard that, as Gardaí approached a Toyota Avensis car in which the Limerick man was travelling, Mr Collopy threw a package containing cocaine worth an estimated €10,500 from the front passenger window.
In January last year, Mr Collopy pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine for sale or supply and was sentenced to six years in jail with the final 18 months suspended.
The court took into consideration the offences of impeding Garda Hill and accepted a nolle prosequi or dismissal entered by the State on a charge of simple possession of cocaine against Mr Collopy.
In 2006, Mr Collopy was jailed for five years with the final 12 months suspended after he pleaded guilty to possession cocaine for sale or supply.
In 2016, Collopy was jailed for five years with the final two years suspended after he pleaded guilty to intimidating a witness in a prosecution against his brothers Damien and Kieran Collopy – who were each jailed after they pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the witness, claiming he had owed €5,000 to their late brother Philip Collopy.
