Drugs ‘mule’ close to death after bag he swallowed burst
At Ennis Circuit Court, counsel for Englishman David Avey, aged 45, Elaine Houlihan BL, said that “he was very grateful to be alive” after swallowing 14 bags of cocaine.
In court, Avey of Lindavista, Coto Bruce, Costa Rica pleaded guilty to importing cocaine and to the possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply, at Shannon Airport on May 13.
Staff on the Continental Airlines flight from Newark to Heathrow were unaware they were dealing with a drug smuggler. The bags of cocaine Avey vomited were only found by cleaning staff after the plane had diverted to Shannon.
An ambulance brought Avey to the accident and emergency & unit at Limerick Regional Hospital and Garda Sean O Murchú told the court: “He was close to death and was very grateful to us and staff at Limerick Regional.”
Garda O Murchú said Avey told gardaí: “Sorry I was stupid and thanks for looking after me.”
Ms Houlihan said Avey was bringing the drugs into Britain at the behest of another.
Garda O’Murchú said the total amount of drugs Avey was importing was 41g with a street value of €2,870.
Garda O’Murchú said Avey told gardaí he purchased the drugs for $700 (€500) in Costa Rica and he was hoping to pay off a debt of £370 and have some money to enjoy his holiday with his mother back in Britain.
The Garda told the court that Avey has no previous convictions and smuggled the cocaine “after taking bad advice from people he didn’t know”.
He said: “I don’t believe that Avey will offend again from what I know of him.”
Ms Houlihan said that there was something amateurish and naïve about Avey’s offence.
In sentencing, Judge Carroll Moran said that there were a number of mitigating factors: Avey’s plea of guilt, no previous convictions and the amount of drugs involved.
Judge Moran imposed a two-year jail term and backdated it to May.
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