No jail for Armagh man in illegal cigarette haul

An Armagh who was caught with 20,000 cigarettes and 240 packets of loose tobacco in Cork without payment of excise duty was given a one-year jail sentence suspended yesterday.

Francis McGale, aged 47, of Crossmore Green, Keady, Co Armagh, pleaded guilty to the crime on Monday and was remanded in custody for sentencing yesterday.

When he appeared again at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, Brendan Kelly, defending, said the accused had brought €3,000 to court as a charitable donation.