A TIPPERARY man who was caught transporting almost €2.85 million worth of drugs and 27 working pistols, ammunition and silencers has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by Judge Patrick McCartan.
Thomas Mulqueen (42), of Connolly Street, Nenagh, was paid €4,000 to pick up the haul in Swords, Co Dublin. He had been given €10,000 to pay to the driver of an SUV who had the €2.7 million worth of heroin, €55,000 worth of cannabis and the firearms stored in the back of his vehicle.
Mulqueen yesterday pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin and cannabis and firearms including semiautomatic and machine pistols, silencers, speed loaders and ammunition at the Coachman’s Inn, Swords, on September 2nd, 2008. His 30 previous convictions included a six-month suspended sentence for an assault.
“All that is evil and wrong in our society is encapsulated in this case,” the judge commented on sentencing Mulqueen.
“He was a courier but he is not an entire innocent as he some experience in the courts. He has accepted a significant amount of money for his role and knew that he was getting into serious business,” Judge McCartan said.
“Heroin wreaks havoc on our communities and leads to appalling headlines on the damage it causes,” he said before he suspended the last five years of the sentence having taken into account Mulqueen’s early plea of guilty and co-operation with gardaí. The judge said he had taken into account evidence that Mulqueen came from a good, hardworking family and said they would be there to support him during his good behaviour bond when he is released from prison.
Det Garda Darragh O’Toole told Tony McGillicuddy, prosecuting, that gardaí had the Coachman’s Inn under surveillance when they spotted Mulqueen drive his Toyota Avensis into the car park. He then got into a Volkswagen Golf before he drove off and pulled up beside a Mitsubishi SUV.
Mulqueen got into the vehicle and handed the driver an envelope of cash before he cleared the boot of the Golf and the other man transferred two holdall bags from the back of his vehicle into the Volkswagen.
Det Gda O’Toole said Mulqueen was arrested at that stage along with the driver of the SUV. This man’s case is still pending.