€250,000 cannabis haul: man held in custody

A man has been remanded in custody, charged with cultivating over a quarter of a million euro worth of cannabis plants near Corrandulla.

Adam Andrukowicz (39), a native of Poland who has only been in Ireland a couple of months, appeared in custody before Galway District Court on Wednesday wearing glasses, a black bomber jacket and jeans.

He is charged with the possession and cultivation of cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €283,000, at a house in Ballydonnellan, Corrandulla, last Monday, October 19.

Garda Barry Nugent gave evidence of arresting and charging the accused at Galway Garda Station on Tuesday.  He said the accused made no reply to either charge.

Garda Nugent said he had no objection to bail with conditions attached.

Judge Mary Fahy remanded Andrukowicz in custody with consent to bail to appear before the court again next Wednesday.

Bail was granted on his own surety of €5,000, with €3,000 cash to be lodged, along with one independent surety of €10,000 with €8,000 cash to be lodged in court.

It was also granted on condition the accused reside at a Galway address, yet to be found and given to Gardaí within 24 hours; sign on three times a week at Galway Garda Station; surrender his passport and other identification and not apply for new travel documents.

Bail was also granted on condition the accused remain within the jurisdiction pending completion of the case.

Defence solicitor, Ronan Murphy applied for Free Legal Aid on behalf of his client.

He said Andrukowicz had only been in the country for two months.  He said he had no money and was hoping to secure the bail money from his family in Poland.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.