Fifteen years for cocaine smuggling Dublin businessman

An entrepreneur and Trinity College graduate, who organised the importation of one of the largest amounts of cocaine ever seized in Ireland, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Gareth Hopkins, 33, with addresses at Carnlough Road in Cabra, Dublin and Leixlip in Co Kildare was caught with €29m worth of cocaine on June 26 last year.

Passing sentence, Judge Mary Ellen Ring said she accepted that Mr Hopkins had turned to a life of crime after losing his job in 2012 but that many Irish people with similar problems didn't turn to drug dealing.

Noting the quantity, quality and value of the drug as well as the pivotal role he played in bringing it here, she then sentenced him to 15 years in jail.

The final two years of the sentence were suspended in light of his early plea and lack of previous convictions.