Sligo man (44) on €100k cocaine charges further remanded in custody after surety not approved
The Sligo ChampionA 44-year-old man has been further remanded in custody until September 3, as his independent surety for bail was not approved by Judge Ciaran Liddy at Ballyshannon District Court on Wednesday.
Patrick Irwin (44) of Carrowgubbadagh, Ballisodare, Sligo is charged with the possession of one kilogramme and nine grammes of cocaine, and the possession of cocaine for the purpose of selling or supplying it to another at Keadue West, Co. Roscommon on August 16, 2026.
The defendant was granted bail with conditions at a special sitting of Sligo District Court on Friday by Judge Liddy. The judge remanded him in custody with consent to bail to Mullingar District Court on August 24. Bail was set at €5,000 self with one independent surety of €30,000, of which €10,000 must be lodged in cash.
The court was told that the independent surety would have to be approved by gardaí. It was not approved by at the court in Mullingar and the matter was then adjourned to Ballyshannon District Court on Wednesday.
At Wednesday’s sitting, Sergeant Brendan Bourke outlined that the State was objecting to the independent surety.
He outlined that Irwin’s son, Patrick Irwin Jr was the defendant’s nominated surety and that he had arrived back from Australia last Tuesday, August 18. Sgt Bourke continued that Irwin Jr had €7,000 in his bank account prior to his father being granted bail.
Sgt Bourke said that subsequently after Irwin was granted bail, €13,000 was transferred into Irwin Jr’s account, of which €10,000 came from North West Vaping Ltd, a company in which his aunt, Irwin’s sister, Catherine McMorrow was a secretary. He added that the company was currently under investigation by gardaí.
Irwin who had no legal representation due to the ongoing industrial action by solicitors over legal aid represented himself.
Under cross examnation by the defendant, Sgt Bourke confirmed that Patrick Irwin Jr had no previous convictions and did not come to any attention of gardaí.
Irwin told Judge Liddy that his son’s cash lodgement was funded by his friends and family. He added that he had not seen his son in 10 months. The defendant argued that the donation from his sister’s company was legitimate.
Irwin said that it was a big ask to ask a stranger to come up with €30,000.
Sergeant Devaney said that the company was under investigation and that the gardaí asked for the individual to provide the surety be independent.
Sergeant Bourke confirmed that Patrick Irwin Jr did not reside in the jurisdiction. Irwin replied that his son only came back to surprise him last week.
Sgt Bourke said that the state were objecting to the independent surety on various grounds as the individual did not reside in the jurisdiction, and that he was not independent of the accused.
Irwin said that it was a “big ask to go and get €30,000 off a stranger”. He added that his son came back to see him and that if he was in his position, he would be in court to bail him.
Judge Liddy noted the state’s objections to bail and that some of the funds came from a company under investigation. He added that the money from the company could be “a legit source, but that it was yet to be established”.
Judge Liddy said that the money of a surety should weigh heavily on a person and that the money would be such a value to them that they will assure that the accused co-operated with his bail. He added that he was not satisfied in that regard.
Judge Liddy concluded that he could not approve of the surety.
Irwin asked the judge if he could have two independent sureties. Judge Liddy replied that he was not going to re-open the bail application. He remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail on terms already set to Sligo District Court on September 3.
Article funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.