A FATHER OF two charged after gardaí intercepted a van carrying €2 million of cannabis in Dublin has been released on bail.

Gary Hanley, 35, and two other men were arrested following a Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) operation on 22 January.

Mr Hanley, from North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, who is on disability benefit, was charged with unlawful possession of 100 kilos of cannabis and having the drugs for sale or supply.

Mr Hanley was initially held in custody despite his partner’s pleas that he was an innocent “family man.”

Subsequently, however, he successfully applied for bail in the High Court.

His case continued at Cloverhill District Court today, when Judge Michael Ramsey noted from defence solicitor Darren Grey that the accused has taken up bail and has been released.

Mr Hanley did not have to attend the procedural hearing, and his bail terms were not stated.

Judge Ramsey adjourned the case and remanded the accused to appear again in May, while gardaí seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Two other men, Sean Mackey, 53, and Jie Liu, 39, are also before the courts and had earlier been granted bail with conditions.

Detective Garda Dean Healy had said they could face more serious charges and the case related to “large scale drug distribution”.

Mr Liu, a food delivery driver formerly of Cedar Grove, Swords, Co. Dublin, alone had additional charges for possessing a further €1 million worth of cannabis, MDMA, amphetamines and ketamine at an apartment in West End Villas, Blanchardstown, Dublin 14, allegedly leased by him.

Mr Mackey, a casino dealer of Blessington Street, Dublin 7, is originally from South Africa but has lived in Ireland for over twenty years.

At their first hearing last month, it was alleged that Gary Hanley drove to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in a Hyundai Tucson and met two other vehicles.

Mr Mackey was allegedly in a Toyota Corolla, and Mr Liu drove an Opel Vivaro van.

After a short interaction, the detective claimed they drove to Athboy in Co. Meath, where phones were exchanged.

At the contested bail hearing, it was said that they drove back to Dublin in a “close proximity” convoy but were intercepted on the N3 northbound.

About 100 kilos of cannabis worth €2 million were recovered in the van allegedly driven by Mr Liu.

The court had heard that Gary Hanley’s car was stopped a short distance away, and he allegedly locked the doors as gardaí approached and that it was claimed he began to “smash” a phone.

It was alleged an additional €1 million worth of various drugs were seized following a search at the apartment rented by him in Blanchardstown.

During their first court hearing in February, Mr Hanley and Mr Mackey’s solicitor had described the evidence against them as circumstantial.

Mr Liu’s lawyer had submitted that his client was now an Irish national, no longer had Chinese citizenship, and had no means of fleeing.

The defence lawyers submitted they had the presumption of innocence but risked facing a lengthy wait pending until their trial, which would likely be dealt with at a higher level in the Circuit Court, but not for another two or three years.