A BRICKLAYER jailed for 18 years for having more than €1 million of cannabis has had his sentence reduced to 12 years at the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Martin O'Connor (42), Townparks, Navan, Co Meath, was convicted by a jury at Galway Circuit Criminal Court in April 2004 of having the drugs for sale or supply at Ballinasloe in January, 2004. He was given a 20-year sentence, with the final two years suspended.
He appealed against his conviction and sentence to the Court of Criminal Appeal which yesterday upheld the conviction but substituted the sentence for one of 12 years. The three-judge court, with Mr Justice Nial Fennelly presiding, and sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, said that, given sentences in similar cases and the fact that a co-accused had received 12 years imprisonment, the appropriate sentence for O'Connor was also 12 years.