Courts / Dublin / Report

Man escaped from airport customs hall after cocaine bust

Date
2018-02-01

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Noel O'Connor, 36, was jailed for three years after smuggling almost €70,000 worth of cocaine from Brazil into Dublin Airport. Customs officers discovered 1.1 kilos of cocaine in two shampoo bottles during a random swab test. O'Connor fled the customs hall, ran into the arrivals area, and escaped in a taxi. He later returned to Ireland to face the court, pleading guilty to importation of controlled drugs. Judge Martin Nolan described him as "the ambassador of his own misfortune" but praised his clean record in custody and charity work with the Irish Red Cross. O'Connor had ten prior convictions, including theft and robbery, and had been a personal trainer. He had fled to Brazil after a breakup, accrued a drug debt, and was persuaded to smuggle drugs to repay it. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 June.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man escaped from airport customs hall after cocaine bust. Charges or matters: the importation of controlled drugs on February 10 last. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

February 10 Hearing Or Sentence
June 23 Other
2018-02-01 Publication

Case subjects

Noel O'Connor

Defendant

Charges: the importation of controlled drugs on February 10 last (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said O'Connor was "the ambassador of his own misfortune" in that it was his own drug addiction that led him to commit this crime.