Courts / Dublin / Report
€3.5m drug bust after garda stopped man for driving with mobile phone
Summary
In a court hearing on 15 October 2018, James Manning, aged 49 and resident of Belclare Avenue, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of 177 kg of cannabis, valued at €3.5 million, found in his van after Gardaí stopped him for driving while using a mobile phone. Garda Thomas Barrett explained that a Garda in Offaly had suspected the van, followed it to Dublin, and upon stopping Manning for mobile‑phone use, searched the vehicle and discovered 15 cardboard boxes of cannabis. Manning, who has 29 prior convictions including false imprisonment, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and a dangerous driving conviction, was arrested and has remained in custody. Judge Francis Comerford sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for a period of three years, citing Manning's early guilty plea and mitigating circumstances. A forfeiture hearing for the van is scheduled for later in the month.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: €3.5m drug bust after garda stopped man for driving with mobile phone. Charges or matters: possession of 177kg of cannabis on December 1, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 1, 2017 Incident
- 2018-10-15 Publication
Why: He said that Manning had agreed to transport the cannabis in order to pay off a drug debt and that there was "no suggestion of being a captain or trusted footman". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: possession of 177kg of cannabis on December 1, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Francis Comerford sentenced him to nine years imprisonment with the final three years suspended for a period of three years.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Dublin. He contacted Lucan Garda Station
- Lucan
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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