Courts / Dublin / Report
Aer Lingus worker jailed for helping smuggle illegal immigrants
Summary
Peter Kernan, 57, a former Aer Lingus ground staff member, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Court for his role in a people‑trafficking operation at Dublin Airport between December 2016 and January 2017. He pleaded guilty to four counts of facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants and to three counts of handling proceeds of crime, amounting to €40,366. Kernan was paid €2,000–€3,000 per person trafficked and used Aer Lingus staff swipe cards to bypass passport control, escorting foreign nationals from the air bridge to the immigration hall via a catering truck and a staff turnstile gate. He had no prior convictions except a traffic offence. Kernan had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery four months earlier and had other health issues, including a cancer gene. His co‑accused, Frederick Cham, also received a four‑year sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Aer Lingus worker jailed for helping smuggle illegal immigrants. Charges or matters: four counts of facilitating the entry of an illegal immigrant into the State at Dublin Airport between December 29, 2016 and January 22, 2017; three counts of handling the proceeds of crime at various locations between November 2014 and January 2017; five charges of facilitating the entry of an illegal immigrant at Dublin Airport on dates between December 13, 2016 and January 22, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 29, 2016 Other
- January 22, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 8, 2017 Incident
- December 13, 2016 Other
- December 2016 Other
- 2018-03-23 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: four counts of facilitating the entry of an illegal immigrant into the State at Dublin Airport between December 29, 2016 and January 22, 2017; three counts of handling the proceeds of crime at various locations between November 2014 and January 2017; five charges of facilitating the entry of an illegal immigrant at Dublin Airport on dates between December 13, 2016 and January 22, 2017 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Aer Lingus worker who helped smuggle illegal immigrants into the country has been jailed for four years. Peter Kernan (57), who underwent quadruple heart by-pass surgery four months ago, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Court today for his role in a people trafficking operation at Dublin Airport last year.
Co Accused
Charges: four counts of facilitating the entry of an illegal immigrant into the State at Dublin Airport between December 29, 2016 and January 22, 2017; three counts of handling the proceeds of crime at various locations between November 2014 and January 2017; five charges of facilitating the entry of an illegal immigrant at Dublin Airport on dates between December 13, 2016 and January 22, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Frederick Cham, also received a four-year sentence last month. He said he believed Kernan and Cham played equal roles in the operation and deserved the same sentence of four years.
Convicted Person
Charges: four counts of facilitating the entry of an illegal immigrant into the State at Dublin Airport between December 29, 2016 and January 22, 2017; three counts of handling the proceeds of crime at various locations between November 2014 and January 2017; five charges of facilitating the entry of an illegal immigrant at Dublin Airport on dates between December 13, 2016 and January 22, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) An Aer Lingus worker who helped smuggle illegal immigrants into the country has been jailed for four years. Peter Kernan (57), who underwent quadruple heart by-pass surgery four months ago, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Court today for his role in a people trafficking operation at Dublin Airport last year.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Court
Topics
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