A Limerick man is wanted in Europe on a human trafficking charge which alleges that he attempted to facilitate by speedboat the transportation of 66 people from Greece to Italy.
Before the High Court this morning was Jeremiah O'Brien, 55, of Yellow Brick House, Roche’s Road, Rathkeale, Limerick.
Detective Garda Tony Keane gave evidence that yesterday, he was on duty in the Rathkeale area when he became aware of a Schengen Information System (SIS) alert for the arrest of Mr O’Brien, which related to a European arrest warrant.
Det Gda Keane said it is alleged that Jeremiah O’Brien and two other named persons acted jointly between 9 November 2017, and 16 November 2017, by renting a car and between 11 November 2017 and 23 November 2017, by renting a 12m long speedboat.
It is further alleged that in the early morning of 22 November 2017, the respondent facilitated the transportation of 66 people, without life jackets, near Nafplio, Greece, towards Italy.
That evening it was discovered that the boat had stranded on a rocky shore near Gyalia beach close to Gerolimenas, Greece.
Det Gda Keane said the group included 30 men, 14 women, and 22 children from Iraq, Iran, and Syria.
Det Gda Keane said that they had paid between $4,000 and $6,000 each.
The detective said that after he informed Mr O’Brien that he was the subject of the SIS alert for the purpose of arrest, the respondent replied: "I was never in Greece."
Det Gda Keane went on to say that after being brought to Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick and given the details of the charge, the respondent said: "I don’t know anything about that."
The detective gave evidence that Mr O'Brien then said that he had been in Greece and did rent a car.
Counsel for the State, Brian Gageby BL said there was no consent to bail and asked that Mr O'Brien be remanded in custody.
Ms Justice Karen O’Connor said she was satisfied that the respondent was the person named on the arrest warrant, based on Det Gda Keane’s evidence.
She remanded Mr O’Brien in custody to appear back before the court on 9 December.
