Sligo man (44) on €100k cocaine charges further remanded in custody after bail not taken up

A 44 year old Sligoman has been further remanded in custody until Wednesday after appearing on charges relating to the seizure of €100,000 worth of cocaine.. Patrick Irwin of Carrowgubaddagh, Ballisodare, Sligo first appeared before Judge Ciaran Liddy at a special sitting of Sligo District Court on Friday evening at 7.30pm where he was remanded in custody with consent to bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on Monday. An independent surety was not approved at the court and Irwin was further remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at a sitting of Ballyshannon District Court on Wednesday, August 26. Irwin is charged with the possession of one kilo and nine grammes of cocaine and having it for the purpose of selling or supplying to another, at Keadue West, Co. Roscommon on August 16, 2026. The court was told the value of the cocaine was €100,000 and was found in a vehicle being driven by Irwin when stopped by Gardaí. Irwin told the court he was denying the charges. Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Garda Conor McNulty. Irwin, who has been in custody since his arrest on August 16., made no reply when the charges were put to him. Inspector Angela Cummins objected to bail. Irwin, who had no legal representation due to the ongoing legal aid dispute made an application for bail. Inspector Cummins outlined to the court how Gardaí had explained its reasons for the objection to bail to Irwin prior to the hearing and this was set out in written form for him and gone over with him by Detective Garda Cathal Duffy. Irwin told the court there parts of it he did not understand. Judge Liddy set bail at €5,000 self with one independent surety of €30,000, of which €10,000 is required to be lodged in cash. It was also made a condition of bail that the defendant surrender his passport and not apply for a new one, and that he sign on at Sligo Garda Station on Wednesdays and Sundays between 9am - 9pm. He was also ordered not interfere with witnesses either directily or indirectly or through social media and that he would stay out of licensed premises. Judge Liddy remanded Irwin in custody with consent to bail to appear at Mullingar District Court on Monday, August 24 at 11am. The court was told that the independent surety would have to be approved by Gardaí. An independent surety was not approved at the court in Mullingar and the matter was adjourned to Ballyshannon District Court on Wednesday.