Cavan man jailed after agreeing to transport cannabis worth €1m on ferry

Sonya McLean

A truck driver who agreed to transport just over €1 million worth of cannabis in his vehicle on a ferry has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Gerard Doran (60) of Cornadarragh, Belturbet, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Port on February 25th, 2021.

He also admitted to being in possession of £4,195 (€5,029), knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime.

Detective Garda Stephen Gillespie told Aoife McNickle BL, prosecuting, that Doran’s truck was searched after it came off a ferry from Holyhead in Wales.

A sniffer dog indicated that there was something of interest in the cab of the truck, which led to the discovery of eight bags of cannabis herb. The drugs were worth €1,020,400.

Doran immediately accepted responsibility for the drugs and said that he had been paid £4,195 to collect the drugs and bring them back to Ireland. He told officers where they could find the cash in the truck.

Det Gda Gillespie said further analysis of CCTV footage showed where the bags had been picked up, and analysis of Doran’s phone led to the discovery of communications setting up the collection.

Doran told gardaí he had been ill and that he was also under financial pressure at the time.

Det Gda Gillespie agreed with Michael Hourigan SC, defending, that his client fully co-operated with the garda investigation and had not been on the garda radar.

A number of testimonials were handed into court, and counsel gave details of Doran’s medical issues. He said he had strong family support.

Judge Martin Nolan said the dog was right when he indicated that something was in the truck but acknowledged that Doran “very quickly made full admissions”.

He accepted that Doran was under financial distress and “succumbed to temptation by reason of his vulnerability”.

“He knew that he was getting himself into a very difficult situation, and he made a bad misjudgement,” Judge Nolan said.

He accepted that by reason of his medical issues, Doran’s time in custody would be more difficult before he sentenced him to four-and-a-half years in prison.