Former gambler transported €1.5m cannabis haul to pay back debt

A former gambler caught transporting €1.5m worth of cannabis to earn money to pay off his debts has been given a five year sentence.

Paul Kelly (aged 24), who has been diagnosed with ADHD, was to receive €1,500 for the run.

Kelly, with an address at Cherryfield Road, Walkinstown pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply in Whitehall, Dublin on May 7, 2010. He has no previous convictions.

Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court said he thought Kelly’s prospects were good but he had to take into account the huge amount of drugs and imposed a five-year sentence.

Detective Garda Ronan Doolin told Ms Melanie Greally BL, prosecuting, that on receipt of confidential information, gardaí monitored the movements of a Nissan Micra driven by Kelly which travelled to the Seven Oaks housing estate in Whitehall near the Regency Hotel.

Kelly was observed going into the hotel, having a conversation and being given the keys to a white van which he then drove from the car park along the Swords Road towards the city centre.

Gardai stopped and searched the van which was found to contain just short of 129 kilogrammes of cannabis herb with a street value of €1,546,080.

The van was also found to contain two weighing scales, self sealing plastic bags and sim cards.

Kelly was arrested and told gardaí he had a gambling problem which was costing him €600 to €700 a week and had a drug debt of €2,500.

He said he had conducted a number of runs of lower value in the past and said the drugs involved in this case were more than he expected.

Det Gda Doolin agreed with Mr David Goldberg SC, defending, that Kelly came from a good family and this has had a devastating effect on them.

He agreed Kelly told gardaí he was to get €1,500 which was to be used towards his gambling debts.

Mr Goldberg said the probation report outlined that there was a low risk of recidivism.

Kelly told Mr Goldberg that he was genuinely remorseful for the offence and that he had stopped gambling and drug use.

Mr Goldberg submitted that Kelly had been diagnosed with ADHD and asked the court to take into account Kelly was not a person who assessed the risks he was taking.

He said Kelly had a good work record in carpentry and landscaping and a good work ethic.