Wesley College grad Andrew Hourigan charged with trafficking meth, roids and cocaine: Court

A Wesley grad pinched for an alleged major meth racket remains free after his parents paid $1.3m to get him out of the clink.

A former Wesley College student allegedly done with a brick of meth, a handgun and cocaine has been released from custody despite having priors for trafficking drugs.

Andrew Hourigan, 25, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of meth.

Hourigan was arrested after he allegedly attempted to flee his parents’ Malvern East home on July 18 this year.

Prahran Divisional Response Unit members arrested Hourigan while he was allegedly jumping a back fence to the adjoining property — also owned by the affluent family.

Hourigan, who was also charged with trafficking steroids and cocaine, was allegedly nabbed with $23,970 cash while attempting his dash over the fence.

Investigators searched both Malvern East properties and even partially dug up a backyard where police allegedly found a 750gm meth brick worth an estimated $225,000.

Police also allegedly dug up vacuum sealed contraband including steroids, ammo and an unregistered handgun.

Cops also allegedly seized cocaine with a street value of $15,000, Xanax, testosterone and various other drugs from Hourigan’s bedroom.

Police also allegedly seized more cash and four mobile phones.

Prahran DRU Senior Constable Tristan Aboltins told the court Hourigan had a “history of violence” and was a “risk to the community”.

Hourigan is led away after his arrest at Malvern East.

Sen-Constable Aboltins also said Hourigan had fail to meet certain conditions of a three-year community correction order handed to him for prior drug trafficking offending.

Phillip Dunn KC, for Hourigan, told the court his client’s parents were “willing to be the eyes and ears of the court”.

However, prosecutor Dan Coombes fired back at this submission, telling the court Hourigan committed alleged serious drug offending while living at his parents’ home.

“It’s put to you (the magistrate) that the parents are indeed to be the eyes and ears of the informant,” Mr Coombes said.

“But they’ve had opportunities to be the eyes and ears of the informant and of the police generally on previous occasions and that hasn’t proven to be successful …

“We note that these two properties are intimately connected by way of ownership … what’s proposed … is for (Hourigan) to be bailed to precisely where the alleged conduct is said to have occurred …

“If an applicant for bail facing the same exact charges asked to be bailed to an address where the source of the offending took place, I’d submit it’s unlikely the magistrate in that circumstance would grant bail …”

Police remove evidence after the Malvern East raid.

Mr Dunn also submitted Hourigan would wear an ankle bracelet and have a curfew

under strict bail conditions.

Mr Dunn also said his client’s mum and dad were willing to put up a $1.3 million surety to deter Hourigan from breaching bail.

“They are obviously concerned and love their son, love their son … but they’re prepared to report him to police if he breaches any condition …,” Mr Dunn said.

The defence submitted Hourigan graduated from Wesley College and both his parents are retired teachers.

Magistrate Therese McCarthy said the prosecution case was “not a weak one” and warned Hourigan not to mess up while on bail.

“(Your parents) are entrusting you with a significant part of their life savings,” Magistrate McCarthy said.

“If you breach bail you run the risk of putting your parents’ life savings at jeopardy.”

Police search the Malvern East home where Hourigan lived.

Hourigan was granted bail with strict conditions he surrender his passport, adhere to a 10pm-6am curfew, wear a 24-hour monitored ankle bracelet and his parents pay the $1.3 million surety.

Hourigan’s older brother, Christopher Hourigan, 32, was arrested alongside his little brother and charged with drug possession.

The court heard the younger Hourigan has a prior for major drug trafficking.