A forensic scientist told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that almost 48 kilos of cannabis resin were recovered from an industrial estate in Dublin from where gardai believe the drugs gang behind the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin operated.
Dr Daniel O'Driscoll, a forensic scientist at the Forensic Science Laboratory at Garda Headquarters, said he examined cannabis resin found at a unit at Greenmount Industrial Estate in Harold's Cross.
The prosecution has claimed that Mr John Gilligan, who is accused of Ms Guerin's murder, was the controlling figure behind a drugs gang that imported and distributed hundred of kilos of cannabis resin from the Harold's Cross premises.
Dr O'Driscoll said the total weight of cannabis found at Greenmount was 47.8 kilos. The forensic scientist, who said he has been involved in the analysis of drugs since 1976, said he also examined bags of white powder found at Greenmount.
These bags contained a sugar-type substance that was commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as a bulk agent for tablets. He said it was also used in the illicit drugs industry to "cut" cocaine. He said cocaine was usually 85 per cent pure at the point of manufacture but would be only 30 per cent at street level and was cut to increase its value and make it easier to manage.
Dr O'Driscoll also said he examined cardboard boxes recovered by gardai and found debris that contained traces of cannabis in 22 of the 25 boxes he examined.
Cross-examined by defence counsel Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, Dr O'Driscoll said he could give no explanation of how bars of cannabis which were wrapped in cellophane could shed crumbs into the cardboard boxes.
Det Garda Michael Moore, of the documents section at the Garda Technical Bureau, said he examined 59 blank Irish driving licences found at Greenmount and compared them with a genuine driving licence.
He said some of the security features present in the genuine licence were not present in the blank licences and he formed the opinion they were counterfeit.
Det Sgt Seamus Nolan told the court he and another garda drove from a garage at the rear of a house at Walkinstown Road to the Greenmount premises, waited there for five minutes, which was the time they estimated for changing clothes, and then drove to Stephen Street in the city centre. He said the journey was 5.2 miles and lasted 25 minutes in free-flowing traffic.
Det Garda John Higgins, of the Ballistics Section, said that he reconstructed a Kawasaki motorcycle from components recovered by the Garda SubAqua Unit from the Liffey. He said that there were several items missing.
He said the motorbike initially appeared to have been dismantled in a methodical manner using tools but there appeared to be an element of panic later, with parts of the bike broken off.
It was the 29th day of the trial of Mr Gilligan (48), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sunday Independent crime reporter Ms Veronica Guerin (37) at Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin on June 26th, 1996.
Mr Gilligan also denies 15 counts alleging the importation of cannabis and firearms and ammunition offences.
The prosecution has claimed that Mr Gilligan was "in control and command" of a criminal gang that imported and distributed large amounts of cannabis and that he organised the murder of Ms Guerin.
The trial continues today.