The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that evidence obtained from a package intercepted by Gardaí was admissible at the trial of BA, the accused/respondent in an appeal brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The ruling concerned a package addressed to Mr Johnson Kelly in Phibsboro. The court said the cocaine found in it, along with cannabis resin and a forged driving licence, was admissible evidence at BA’s trial. It found there was lawful authority for the interception and no basis for excluding the evidence on the ground that it had been obtained unlawfully.
Two members of the court, O’Donnell J. and Charleton J., expressed differing views on whether the package was a postal packet. The court said that disagreement had no impact on the outcome because of its decision that the interception was lawful.
The ruling, delivered by Chief Justice Denham on 10 May 2016, answered the question before the court by stating that there had been no unlawful interception. It does not state the outcome of BA’s trial or make any finding of guilt.