James Leen trial date set over crystal meth charges

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Special Criminal Court set James Leen’s trial for 9 November 2026 at a hearing on 9 October. The court was told an agreement on phone data would allow the trial to proceed.

Leen, of Kilmorna, Listowel, Co Kerry, faces five charges: importing crystal meth, three possession charges and directing the activities of a criminal organisation. The importation is alleged to have occurred at Cork Port on 16 October 2023. The possession charges relate to Ballyseedy Garden Centre in Tralee between 27 October 2023 and 12 February 2024; the alleged criminal organisation offence spans 7 February 2023 to 16 February 2024.

The case relates to the seizure of 564kg of methamphetamine, estimated to be worth €32.8 million, at Cork Port on 16 February 2024. The State alleges the drugs were imported from Mexico, stored at the garden centre and destined for export to Australia.

At an earlier hearing, defence counsel Colm Smyth said the prosecution alleged phone conversations connected Leen to three imported machines, one containing the drugs. Smyth said further analysis would show that, although the messages pointed to Leen’s involvement in importing two machines, he had no connection to the third. He said the data pointed to Leen’s innocence.

The court heard that a US phone expert would conduct the analysis in Ireland, subject to conditions including regard for personal data, making no copies and sending everything extracted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Judge Caroline Biggs set the trial date; the court heard it could last around six weeks, with weekly listings beforehand. Arraignment and a formal plea were expected on 20 October.