Courts / Dublin / Report

Talented soccer player caught holding €450k in cannabis is jailed

Date
2018-04-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Antonia McGrath, aged 25, a former talented soccer player who had to abandon a scholarship at Manchester after becoming pregnant at 18, was jailed for three and a half years for possession of cannabis for sale or supply. She admitted holding over €450,000 worth of cannabis in her Clondalkin apartment. McGrath was caught after a Garda tip led to surveillance of her flat; a man, Keith Tiswell, was seen driving into the underground carpark, later found carrying cannabis and cocaine. CCTV showed McGrath handing the drugs to Tiswell. A warrant was executed, uncovering 16.39 kg of cannabis herb (valued at €328,000) and 1.43 kg of cannabis (valued at €8,580) in her hot press. She pleaded guilty on 25 May 2017, had no prior convictions, and claimed fear for her life and that of her son.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Talented soccer player caught holding €450k in cannabis is jailed. Charges or matters: possession of the drugs for sale or supply both at her home and in Tiswell's vehicle on May 25, 2017; possessing under 6kg of cannabis herb worth €119,600 and 67.5g of cocaine valued at €4,725 in his car on the M50 northbound near Clondalkin on May 25, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 25, 2017 Incident
2018-04-30 Publication

Why: She didn't give gardaí any further information because she said she was in fear for her own life and that of her son. CNI source report

Case subjects

Antonia McGrath

Defendant

Charges: possession of the drugs for sale or supply both at her home and in Tiswell's vehicle on May 25, 2017; possessing under 6kg of cannabis herb worth €119,600 and 67.5g of cocaine valued at €4,725 in his car on the M50 northbound near Clondalkin on May 25, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Keith Tiswell

Defendant

Plea: Guilty