A man charged in connection with the discovery of £40 million worth of cocaine aboard a catamaran in Kinsale, Co Cork, in September has told a court he does not approve of drug dealing.
Mr John O'Toole (52), born in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, but with an address at Via Argentina, Panama City, told Cork Circuit Criminal Court he believed drug dealing was wrong and harmful.
"I don't like drug dealers because of what they do. It's all mafiosa, gangs, killings and that sort of thing. I don't agree with it. It's just not in me. Drugs are totally wrong."
Mr O'Toole was giving evidence during his trial on five charges including importing cocaine, offering to supply cocaine and having cocaine for sale or supply in Kinsale between August 31st and September 5th last year.
Yesterday, he told how, following his move to Panama with his late wife, Gabriela, who was suffering from cancer, he was introduced to a man in a yacht club at Panama City who asked him to take drugs to Europe. "I was sort of shocked - I had never been approached like that before . . . I refused point blank."
Cross-examined by Mr John Edwards SC, prosecuting, he said the man gave him $5,000 to help with his wife's medical costs but he denied he knew there would be strings attached. "I made it plain that I did not want to get involved - I never thought it would come to what it did - it was a nightmare . . . I thought at the time that he was genuinely sorry for me and my wife and he had money and he wanted to help."
The court had earlier heard that Mr O'Toole later received $70,000 in payments of $4,000 and $5,000 on a monthly basis over a year from the man.
The court heard that in his statement to the Garda, Mr O'Toole said the man later said to him: "You take the boat to Europe or I'll take the boat and you're dead."
The statement continued: "This man then attacked me and beat me up in a car park in Panama City and he wanted me to go. I agreed to go as I felt I had no choice and needed cash to treat my wife's cancer."
The court heard he was to be given $300,000 less the $70,000 for the trip.
The case continues.