Bail applications rejected for pair accused over multi million Laois drugs haul

Two men were denied bail in connection with drug seizures totaling over €14 million in Laois and Dublin. 

Robert Wojtanowicz (45) of 12 Manor Grove, Mountmellick is accused of possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at Laois Motorworks, Manor Street, Mountmellick on February 4, 2025. He is also accused of possession of cocaine for sale or supply at a house at Eaton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin on February 4, 2025. 

Robert Cup (44) of  Marlfield Gardens, Cabbinteely, Dublin is accused of possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at Laois Motor Works, Manor Street, Mountmellick on February 4, 2025. He is further accused of possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Eaton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin and money laundering in relation to the sum of €30,950 at Eaton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin on February 4, 2025. 

Dublin Crime Response Team’s Detective Garda Maria Connolly objected to bail for Mr Wojtanowicz. She gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and said the defendant, who was assisted by a Polish interpreter in court, made no reply to the charges.

She said officers from the Dublin Crime Response Team had executed a search warrant at Laois Motor Works and the defendant was present and held a lease for the premises. She said drugs valued at €12, 820,000 were found at the premises.

Garda Connolly said a search warrant was also executed at an address at Eaton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin where a car registered to the defendant was discovered to contain cocaine valued at over €1 million. 

Det Connolly said gardai seized a total of 199 kilos of cocaine and four kilos of cannabis. She said the cocaine was valued at €70,000 per kilo, or €13, 930,000 and the cannabis was valued at €20,000 per kilo, a total of €80,000. She said garda put a total value of the drugs seized in Laois and Dublin at €14,010,000. 

She said the seizure was being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland and preliminary tests on samples of the cocaine had been positive. 

She said the defendant had been standing with two other men in the driveway of the property when gardaí arrived. She said he held a lease to the property and was the registered owner of a number of vehicles at the premises. 

Det Connolly said drugs were discovered concealed in a “hide” located in a Ford Kuga at the premises. She explained that the hide was controlled by “a jack type”  mechanism. 

Drugs were also found concealed in a Ford Transit van and beside a Renault Traffic van at the premises. The vehicles were registered to the defendant, she said. More drugs were found concealed in a Landrover and Seat car. She said the “Landrover and Transit had hides”  built into them.  A Ford Kuga car registered to the defendant was located at the search at Eaton Close in Dublin and it contained “a sophisticated hide” where drugs were discovered. 

Det Connolly said there was also a “drug manufacturing plant” on the premises where a press, chemicals, microwaves and vacuum bags were located.   

She said gadaí were of the opinion that the premises was a “central part” of a drug supply network to the greater Dublin metropolitan area. 

She said the defendant was originally from Poland and still has family there. She said given the significant value of the controlled drugs gardaí believe the defendant would flee the jurisdiction and fail to answer bail. 

David Nugent BL said his client asked about the “holds” where blocks of cocaine were found. He wanted to know whether or not the defendant would know they were there by looking at the vehicles. 

Det Connolly said “they are not standard” and she noted the back seat was taken out of one vehicle. 

Mr Nugent said his client registers cars in his name when he purchases them. He said the acetone, methanol, microwave, clingfilm and vacuum bags mentioned by the garda could all be found in a garage. 

He said the defendant has been in the country since 2005 and has ties to the community. Mr Nugent asked if there were any bail conditions that would satisfy gardaí. He said his client was happy to adhere to strict bail conditions. 

Mr Nugent pointed to the complexity of the case and said the proceedings were likely to take some time.

“This matter is going to take maybe into next year to resolve,” he said.

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said while the man is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the case involving drugs with an alleged value of €14 million was “the most serious case in my time in Laois.”  He said gardaí would be strenuously opposed to any bail under any conditions. 

Judge John Brennan noted the seriousness of the charges and the alleged value of the drugs and the nature and strength of the evidence and refused the bail application. 

Mr Nugent applied for legal aid but Det Connolly objected and Judge Brennan reserved the issue. 

The second defendant Robert Cup, also applied for bail at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Det Garda Niall Mangan objected to bail. He said the defendant was standing with two other men in the drive of Laois Motor Works when gardaí arrived. He said the defendant was in possession of a key for the roller shutter door. 

Det Mangan said the defendant told gardai he resided at the address at Eaton Close, Rathcoole in Dublin.  He said cocaine valued at over €1 million and cash amounting to €30,950 was found at Eaton Close in Dublin. 

“I am requesting that bail is not granted in this case,” he said. He expressed his belief that the defendant was a flight risk. 

David Nugent BL said his client would be willing to adhere to strict bail conditions. He said the man has a partner in Ireland. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the application was “a carbon copy” of the previous bail application. 

Judge John Brennan said he couldn’t ignore the nature and seriousness of the charges. He said he was refusing bail and he again reserved the issue of legal aid. 

Both men were remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison to appear before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court via video link on February 13.