A YOUNG Letterkenny man charged with being in possession of more than €100,000  of cocaine has appeared in court.

Mark McMonagle (24), with an address of  Sylvan Park, Gortlee, appeared before Letterkenny District Court today.

McMonagle was arrested on Friday, January 8, at a garda led Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoint at 3.20pm at Drumbuoy, Lifford.

His arrest followed a search of the vehicle when cocaine with a street value of €105,000 was discovered in a plastic bag concealed inside a clothes bag in the boot.

McMonagle was charged and was brought before a special sitting of Sligo District Court on Saturday. There, Judge Kevin Kilraine granted a temporary bail bond.

He is charged with the possession of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply. He was also detected with two grammes of cocaine at Letterkenny Garda Station.

An independent surety of €20,000 including €5,000 in cash was provided by the defendant’s father, James McMonagle, who was also present in court today.

Today’s brief hearing was to vary the conditions of McMonagle’s bail bond. McMonagle was ordered to surrender his passport and ordered to adhere to a daily curfew of 10pm and 7am. He is to reside at The Cottages, Ballyraine, and is to sign on once a week at Letterkenny Garda Station.

Defendant’s solicitor Frank Dorrian told the court his client’s phone was seized by gardaí as part of the investigation. However, Mr Dorrian told the court that as his client needs to be contactable by gardaí he was purchasing another phone today for that purpose.

The case was adjourned until March 8 for directions.