Drug courier gets seven years

A drug courier who earned a weekly "wage" of €400 for moving drugs for criminals has been given a seven-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of cannabis valued €7m.

Stephen Pender (aged 43), who was driving the van in which the drugs were found, failed to show up for his trial on the charges last November and bail money of €50,000, which was put up by his mother-in-law, was forfeited.