Scottish man jailed for storing €375,000 worth of cannabis

A Scottish man who fled Ireland over eight years ago after being charged with storing firearms and €375,000 of cannabis resin for Irish criminals to whom he owed money has been given a six year sentence.

James Tonner (41) was quickly found in Scotland by the criminals who forced him to store more drugs for which he served a four year sentence there and was subsequently extradited back to Ireland.

Tonner, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs and to possession of a semiautomatic pistol, hand gun and air pistol without a certificate at his then home at Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend on June 4, 1999.

Judge Tony Hunt said the case "was not as sinister as it might appear at first blush" noting that Tonner had fallen into "serious company" and had little choice but to comply with their demands on him.

Judge Hunt imposed a sentence of six years imprisonment but suspended the final three years on conditions.

Detective Garda William Armstrong told Ms Mary Rose Gearty BL, prosecuting, that gardai acting on foot of confidential information discovered the cannabis resin which was worth over Ir£500,000 (€618,184) at the time, along with a number of firearms in a locker on his premises.

Tonner, who was not there at the time, handed himself into gardaí and admitted responsibility for the items. He told gardaí he was storing them for other persons but did not reveal their identity.

Det Gda Armstrong said Tonner was bailed to appear at the District Court but absconded back to Scotland and a bench warrent was issued. Extradition proceedings were initiated and he was brought back to Ireland in June 2007 under garda escort after serving a four year sentence for possession of cocaine in Scotland.

Det Gda Armstrong agreed with defence counsel, Mr Shane Costelloe BL, that the Scottish offence was committed after this offence and there were no other convictions.

Mr Costelloe said Tonner had come to Ireland to live with his Irish partner in 1991 and had used his specialised skills as a molten burner on building sites around the capital.

He attended greyhound racing at the Shelbourne dog track in his leisure time but his gambling escalated until he was betting his week’s wages. Tonner made "friends" with a man who repaid his €3,000 debt and he was eventually given an ultimatum that unless he repaid the money immediately or stored drugs his life would be in jeopardy.

Mr Costelloe said Tonner was regrettably found by the Irish criminals quicker then by the gardai after he fled back home to Scotland and forced to re-offend. He said Tonner was in genuine fear of these men.

Counsel said Tonner, a father of three, had displayed "exemplary behaviour" while in custody, becoming a "trustee" within the prison and training as a "listener" with The Samaritans.

Mr Costelloe said Tonner suffered a heart condition brought on by stress for which he takes daily medication but was otherwise in good health and wished to lead a a useful and productive life after completing his sentence.