Ex-Ryanair Pilot Granted Bail in €10m Cannabis Case

DUBLIN— A former Ryanair (FR) pilot accused of possessing cannabis worth €10 million for sale or supply has been granted bail on July 30, 2025. The incident occurred in Meelick, Co Clare, where authorities seized an estimated 502kg of cannabis.

Brendan O’Mara, 62, was arrested after customs officers and gardaí found the drugs on May 7. Though initially denied bail by the High Court, the Court of Appeal has reversed the decision under strict conditions due to concerns that he could flee using aviation access.

Photo: By Steve Knight – https://www.flickr.com/photos/kitmasterbloke/51341704771/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113415745

Ryanair Pilot Granted Bail

The Court of Appeal considered multiple factors before granting bail to Brendan O’Mara, a retired Ryanair (FR) pilot. Justice John Edwards acknowledged the seriousness of the charge—possession of cannabis for sale or supply—and the possibility of a life sentence.

However, he noted that while O’Mara posed a theoretical flight risk, it was not substantial enough to justify continued detention.

O’Mara had arranged to emigrate to the United States shortly before his arrest, which raised judicial concerns. The court considered his professional background, extensive aviation history, and familiarity with cross-border operations.

Prosecutors argued that O’Mara, due to his 50 years in aviation, may still have contacts with access to aircraft that could help him evade justice, the Irish Times reported.

In response, the defense offered substantial bail guarantees, including a €150,000 independent surety from O’Mara’s sister, his own bond of €70,000 (with €35,000 lodged), and his full cooperation in surrendering all travel and pilot documentation. The court accepted these terms, subject to additional restrictions.

Photo: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 – Free photo on Pixabay

Conditions Attached to Bail Decision

To mitigate flight risk, the Court imposed strict conditions:

• Surrender of all pilot licences and passports.
• Daily sign-ins at a local Garda station.
• Prohibition on applying for any aviation-related employment.
• Ban on visiting any airfield or applying for travel documents.
• Residency requirement at his family home in Co Clare.
• No entry into Northern Ireland.
• Mandatory provision of a working mobile number to Gardaí.
• Maintenance of good behaviour and compliance with all court terms.

These conditions aim to eliminate the possibility of unauthorized travel, particularly by air. The defense argued that without a valid license and legal documentation, O’Mara would be unable to pilot any aircraft—unless by unlawful means, which was deemed unlikely under surveillance.

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Timeline of Events and Legal Background

The arrest followed a joint operation by Gardaí and customs officers on May 7, who discovered pallets allegedly containing 502kg of cannabis at O’Mara’s Meelick residence (near Shannon Airport, SNN). The street value was estimated at over €10 million.

The High Court had initially denied bail due to perceived escape risk, citing his aviation background.

Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the pilot had no active access to airfields and highlighted his willingness to surrender his pilot licence. He contended that assumptions about potential flight lacked a concrete basis.

The Court of Appeal, while acknowledging some risk, agreed with this assessment and reversed the High Court’s decision.

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