Eight people charged over Ireland’s biggest drugs haul off Cork have cases transferred to Special Criminal Court

The seizure of €157m of cocaine from the MV Matthew off Cork was the biggest in the history of the State. Photo: PA

Paul Neilan

Eight men charged in relation to the largest seizure of drugs in the history of the State after a Panamanian cargo ship was stormed by an elite special forces unit off the southeast coast last year have had their cases transferred to the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

At the three-judge court this morning State solicitor Ciara Vibien successfully applied to have all eight men’s cases heard at the court, which deals with terrorism and organised crime-related offences.