Former Ryanair pilot contests €10m drug seizure in Irish court

A former Ryanair pilot, Brendan O’Mara, is contesting drug charges in Ennis District Court following a seizure of substances valued at approximately €10 million. Mr. O’Mara, 63, is charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of supply.

His legal counsel argues that the substance in question is hemp with a THC content of 0.3% or less. The defense contends that such material should be classified as agricultural goods, citing precedents in mainland Europe and pending considerations in the High Court and European Court of Justice. The prosecution has been adjourned pending a High Court ruling regarding the legal status of low-THC hemp under the Misuse of Drugs Act.