THE mother of a Fermanagh man accused of being involved in an international drugs smuggling operation was told she could lose her €15,000 surety if her son breaches any of the bail conditions set down by the court.
Mary Curran with an address in Clones, Co Monaghan appeared before Judge Marie Keane at Bandon District Court. She offered to put up an independent surety of €15,000 for her son, Sean Curran, who was given bail by the High Court.
Mr Curran (37) of 37 Carrickyheenan Road, Aghnacloy, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh was arrested earlier this year in Leap and charged, with nine others, with conspiracy to import controlled drugs, in excess of €13,000 into the State between February 27th and March 14th. A file is still being prepared by the Director of Public Prosecutions into the case. The other nine accused currently remain in custody.
Mary Curran told Judge Marie Keane that the money she was offering the court as a surety was her own money. She had the money in a savings account and transferred it to her current account and produced copies of her bank statement to Judge Keane.
Insp Kevin Long said that they were satisfied with Mary Curran and the information she was providing to the court including the address that she provided.
Conditions of Mr Curran being released on bail include that he must surrender his passport to the authorities and not apply for any new travel documents. He is also not to leave the jurisdiction of the State and is to sign on daily at Monaghan Garda Station between the hours of 8am and 8pm. He must also maintain a curfew from 10pm to 7am and have no contact directly or indirectly with any witnesses or co-accused. He must also keep his mobile phone charged at all times and provide the number to gardaí and he must also keep the peace and be of good behaviour while out on bail.
Judge Keane reminded Mary Curran of the seriousness of putting up a surety and said that should Sean Curran not abide by the bail conditions she would run the risk of losing €15,000.
Mary Curran said she understood the implications if bail conditions were breached by her son.
Judge Keane approved the surety and directed that the sum of money be lodged and that Sean Curran would have to sign the bail bond at Cork Prison before he was released on bail.
