Court hears accused in €2.1m Cork drug seizure suffers agonising health crisis

Accused Croatian driver in €2.1m drug case pleads for urgent medical treatment while in custody.

A Croatian truck driver charged in connection with a €2.1 million cannabis seizure in Cork is suffering “constant pain” and requires urgent medical treatment, a court has heard.

Fifty-nine-year-old Robert Slivar appeared before Cork District Court today with the assistance of an interpreter. His defence solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, told the court that his client had been struggling with an ongoing ear condition since his detention earlier this month.

Mr Kelleher described the problem as “serious medical difficulties” that have persisted since Slivar entered custody. “He is being attended to by doctors but is in constant pain with his ear,” he said. “It has been a problem from the get-go and he has been on numerous occasions. I ask that it would be noted that he needs urgent medical care with his ear problem.”

Slivar, formerly of Ivanic in Croatia, is accused of involvement in the seizure of 93 packages of herbal cannabis, weighing a total of 107kg, at the Port of Cork in Ringaskiddy on 27 July. Gardaí have estimated the haul’s street value at €2.1 million.

He faces two charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977: possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply.

When charged under caution, Gardaí said he made no reply. The accused has consistently denied wrongdoing, according to his solicitor.

Slivar first appeared in court on 3 August. At today’s brief hearing, Judge Brendan O’Reilly confirmed that the accused was not required to speak but was produced in person due to his complete lack of English and the need for translation.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis told the court that directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are still awaited.

Defence solicitor Kelleher made it clear that his client would not consent to a remand of “beyond two weeks.” Judge O’Reilly acknowledged that “this was his right.”

Slivar will return to court at his next scheduled appearance, with a production order in place to ensure he is physically present.

At an earlier hearing, Gardaí strongly opposed bail. Detective Garda Ryan Dillon cited the seriousness of the charges and the strength of the evidence. The scale of the seizure, he argued, reinforced the risks posed by releasing the accused.

Slivar, who has no known ties to Ireland and requires an interpreter for all legal proceedings, remains in custody as the case moves forward.

While the legal process continues, attention has now turned to Slivar’s deteriorating health. His defence team stressed that his ear problem, which began at the start of his detention, has not improved despite repeated medical attention.

“He is in constant pain,” Mr Kelleher told the court, warning that urgent care was essential.

For now, Slivar remains in custody, awaiting both medical treatment and the next stage in a case that centres on one of Cork’s largest recent drug seizures.