A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Judgment reserved in Cork cocaine appeal
The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment in the case of a British man appealing against his 25-year sentence for possession of cocaine in the State’s largest case of drug smuggling.
Joseph Daly (44), Bexley, Kent, was jailed for 25 years by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin in July 2008, having being found guilty of possession for sale or supply of cocaine valued at €440 million by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury.
Patrick McCarthy SC, for Daly, told the court that Judge Ó Donnabháin had erred in principle by imposing an excessive sentence.
He said evidence was given at trial that Daly was not a prime mover in the drug run as he lacked the finances to bring drugs from the Bahamas to Ireland.
Five-year jail term for holding guns
A man who was made to hold a weapons cache, including a machine gun and silencer, because he had run up a drug debt with a criminal gang has been jailed for five years.
This was the second time Karl Bowes (24) had been caught with a weapon which he claimed he was made hold. In 2007 he received community service for possessing a handgun which he said was given to him by people he was “in fear of”.
Bowes, Connolly Lodge, Buckingham Street, pleaded guilty to possession of a Czech-made Luger revolver and a “knock-off” Ingram Mac 10 machine gun at his family home at Clonshaugh Drive, Coolock, on June 6th, 2010.
Bowes told gardaí his family had been threatened by the gang and he had racked up a €35,000 drug debt and was made hold the guns in part repayment.
Man 'took cannabis for pain relief'
A Bray man who pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants in the attic of his home has been given a suspended two- year prison sentence at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court.
The court heard gardaí found eight grown cannabis plants Brian O’Connor’s attic at Wolfe Tone Square, Bray, on September 1st, 2009.
Garda Thomas Bissett said O’Connor accepted responsibility for the plants, valued at €3,200, and said they were for his own use.
He had been assaulted, suffered chronic pain and he said he smoked cannabis for pain relief.
He was fined €250 yesterday for possessing cannabis, and was bound to the peace for three years.
Vodka theft trial told of surveillance
A garda has revealed details of a surveillance operation in the trial of three men accused of the theft of €46,000 worth of vodka.
Det Garda Insp John Furlong said he briefed his surveillance team at 6am on April 10th, 2006, about a truck carrying vodka and followed it as it drove from Bailieborough, Co Cavan, to near Delvin, Co Westmeath.
Simon Maxwell (43), Ladestown, Mullingar, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and possession of 22 pallets of vodka at Mitchelstown, Delvin, Co Westmeath, on April 10th, 2006. He has also pleaded not guilty to possessing a stolen mobile phone.
Thomas Maxwell (47), Stonehall, Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath, has also pleaded not guilty to theft and possession of the vodka.
Philip Hickey (49), Grennanstown, Athboy, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the theft and possession of stolen property and unlawful use of a vehicle.