Daniel McKirdy extradited to Armidale to face Liston cannabis crop charges

Daniel James McKirdy allegedly skipped court in Armidale in 2014 on five drug-related charges stemming from an illegal haul seized by police three years earlier.

McKirdy is facing charges of cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis, supplying a prohibited drugs and three counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

He was due to stand trial in Armidale District Court on August 18, 2014, but he failed to appear.

Judge Clive Jeffreys issued a warrant for his arrest.

New England Acting Inspector Matt Crotty said NSW police were alerted to McKirdy’s location in Queensland last week.

“New England detectives were alerted by interstate counterparts that a man had been arrested in Logan in relation to alleged property offences,” he told Fairfax Media.

“That accused appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on November 11 where extradition proceedings were commenced.”

Detectives travelled to Queensland where they were successful in McKirdy’s extradition.

“The accused was taken into the custody of New England detectives and transported to NSW where he was charged by virtue of the bench warrant at Armidale Police Station,” Acting Inspector Crotty said.

“He appeared at Armidale Local Court where he was refused bail by the court.”

He made no application for bail during an appearance in Coffs Harbour District Court where Judge Laura Wells remanded McKirdy into custody with a new trial date to be set after another mention of the case later this month.

McKirdy was arrested at a property near Tenterfield on January 19, 2011 by police from the Target Action Group and New England Criminal Investigation. Officers raided properties at Liston where 1140 cannabis plants were seized along with equipment used to cultivate cannabis.