€235K drug accused fails to appear

A 30-YEAR-OLD man, accused of having over €235,000 of illegal drugs in his possession, had a warrant issued for his arrest when he failed to appear at a recent sitting of Monaghan District Court.

Saulius Vertelis, previously of Riverside, Coolshannagh, Monaghan Town, faces charges that he had “ecstasy” (MDMA) tablets with an estimated street value of €235,000 for sale or supply at that address on July 25 of last year, and that he also had a smaller quantity of cannabis for his own use on the same occasion.

When the case was called it was accepted by Paul Boyce, solicitor, that his client was not present.

Judge Patricia Cronin acceded to an application from Sergeant Lisa McEntee that a bench warrant be issued for the defendant’s arrest. When the judge asked that she be made aware if Vertelis happened to show up before the court was finished, Sgt McEntee quipped, “We may have to go further afield!”

The case had been adjourned on a number of occasions, during which Vertelis, whose more recent address was given as Burnaby Park, Greystones, Co Wicklow, did turn up at court. He initially appeared at Trim District Court on Saturday, July 26 2026, the day after his arrest.

At the special sitting in Trim, Judge Raymond Finnegan had been told that 27,500 ecstasy tablets with a street value of just over €235,000 were found at the defendant’s Monaghan apartment, following a controlled operation in which the delivery of a package marked as dog food to that address had been monitored. Gardaí had also seized €1,000 worth of cannabis herb from a vehicle belonging to Mr Vertelis.

It had been confirmed that the defendant was of Lithuanian nationality and had been in Ireland since 2016. Mr Vertelis succeeded in obtaining High Court bail last September and was in a position to take this up a couple of months later.

It was confirmed by Sgt McEntee at the recent court sitting that DPP directions in the case are still being awaited.