An aviation broker (36) appeared before Dublin District Court today charged in connection with last week's seizure of €10 million of heroin at a small airport in Belgium.
John Kinsella, with an address at Cairn Wood, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, was denied bail by Judge Cormac Dunne at the hearing.
Mr Kinsella, who was a former national super heavyweight-boxing champion, was charged with conspiracy to import controlled drugs.
Garda Peter Gilligan told the Bridewell District Court he charged Mr Kinsella at 5.18pm yesterday in Clondalkin Garda Station. The court heard he was cautioned and charged and had nothing to say.
Mr Kinsella was arrested at Weston Aerodrome in Kildare at 5.25pm last Tuesday. Garda Gilligan said Mr Kinsella had an intricate knowledge of the aviation industry and many contacts within it.
"As well as that he is a man who has access to a private jet and indeed owned one," he said. The garda said driving licences were found in Mr Kinsella's residence that he believed were forged.
The court heard Mr Kinsella had access to a property in Thailand, a number of bank accounts in Bangkok and considerable assets.
Garda Gilligan, from the Garda National Drugs Unit, said a file is being completed involving assistance from a number of European countries, including Dutch, Belgium and UK authorities.
He told the court controls regarding passenger jets exiting the state from private airfields were lax. "It is my belief it is quite possible for a person who has access to private jets to leave the country at will, without knowledge," he said.
Mr Kinsella told the courts he did not have access to aeroplanes as he has signed over shareholding in the company he was involved in.
Mr Kinsella said an aircraft which gardaí were alleging he owned actually belonged to another company and was in France undergoing heavy maintenance.
The accused said he had taken pilot exams but had not passed a practical and did not have a pilot's licence.
Gardai objected to Mr Kinsella being released on bail due to the seriousness of the charges and his involvement in the aviation business. Bail was refused and Mr Kinsella was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison until Friday.
Mr Kinsella was one of five people arrested in Dublin, Belgium and The Netherlands following the seizure of 50 kilos of heroin that were found in the luggage of a passenger as he tried to board an Irish private jet at an airport in Southern Belgium.
The jet had flown to Belgium from Weston airport in Kildare.