Three sentenced in €440m cocaine trial

The three Englishmen who were on trial in the biggest drugs crime in the history of the State have been sentenced today.

Joseph Daly, of Carisbrooke Avenue, Bexley, Kent, England, was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.

Perry Wharrie (aged 48) of Pryles Lane, Essex, England, and Martin Wanden (aged 45), who is also English but of no fixed abode, were both given a 30-year sentence.

All three were found guilty of possession of cocaine, having it for sale or supply and possession for sale or supply when its street value exceeded €13,000 on July 2, at Dunlough Bay, Mizen, Goleen, Co Cork.

Gerard Hagan (aged 23) from Hollow Croft, Liverpool, the man who scrambled out of the water of Dunlough Bay on July 2, 2007, and up the cliff to raise the alarm, pleaded guilty to his part in the importation of drugs before the trial began and will be sentenced later.

The jury could not be told this fact in case it affected their attitude to the case.

Full report to follow.