Three men have gone on trial at the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork charged in connection with the biggest cocaine seizure in the history of the State.
48-year-old Perry Wharrie, 45-year-old Martin Wanden and 41-year-old Joe Daly have pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with the seizure.
The jury was told by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin that the trial may last up to 10 weeks.
On 2 July last year, gardaí and customs officers recovered 60 bales of cocaine weighing a total of 1.5 tonnes from the sea at Dunlough Bay in West Cork.
There was a major garda investigation in the days and weeks following the discovery of the drugs.
Arising from this investigation three men went on trial today at the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork.
The three defendants, who are all from England, are each facing three charges of possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine for sale or supply and possession of the drugs for sale or supply when their market value was €13,000 or more.
All three men have pleaded not guilty.
Judge Ó Donnabháin told the jury of nine men and three women this afternoon that there was some considerable time commitment involved and the trial was expected to last up to 10 weeks.
