Man appears in court on major drugs charges

A man appeared at Athlone District Court on Monday charged with the possession of drugs for sale or supply, in the wake of a Garda operation, which Gardai say uncovered cocaine and cannabis valued at almost €1.5m during a search of a local premises last Friday. On Monday, Christy Lacey (42) of Twyford, Baylin, Athlone appeared at a special sitting of the District Court to face a charge of possession of cocaine and cannabis herb valued at €13,000 or more, for sale or supply at his home address on Friday last. He was also issued with separate charges of possessing cannabis, possessing cannabis for sale or supply, possessing cocaine, and possessing cocaine for sale or supply, at the same address on the same date. The court was told that he had been arrested on Sunday night at 6.11pm, and was charged at Athlone Garda Station at 7.05pm. When the charges were read out to him he made no reply. The court heard that Mr Lacey was in receipt of disability payments, and legal aid was assigned to him in the case. Mr Lacey's solicitor, Padraig Quinn, said his client was not applying for bail at this stage. Mr Quinn stated that the defendant was on certain prescribed medication and he asked the judge to direct that this medication be provided to him while he's in custody. Judge Elizabeth McGrath remanded Mr Lacey in custody to Cloverhill prison, to appear at Cloverhill District Court this Friday, December 4.