Trio charged over cigarettes haul

The men appeared at Banbridge Magistrates Court

Three men have appeared in court charged in connection with a cigarettes seizure put at £2.5m in north Armagh.

Aidan Grew, 49, from Blackwatertown, and Noel Abernathy, 36, from Dungannon, both denied handling chargeable duty goods and possessing criminal property.

John Gerard Robinson, 45, of The Avenue, Derryloughan, denied carrying chargeable duty goods and possessing the cigarettes. He was granted bail.

The other two men, who are cousins, were remanded in custody.

Banbridge Magistrates Court heard that when charged, Mr Grew, from Benburb Street in Blackwatertown, said: "I have no knowledge of cigarette importation. I told the police during interviews that I was there to sell furniture."

Mr Abernathy, of Glebe Mews in Dungannon, said he had gone with to sell furniture with his cousin, the court was told.

Mr Robinson said he had been a haulage contractor for 30 years. The court heard he said he had received a telephone call to collect a trailer and did not realise it had cigarettes in it.

Mr Grew and Mr Abernathy have not yet filed applications for bail.

Mr Robinson was granted bail and is due to appear in court again next week.