Courts / Dublin / Report

Yorkshire man jailed for importing €300k in cannabis herb

Date
2014-10-17

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

John Humphrey, a 28‑year‑old Yorkshire man, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He had attempted to import €300,000 worth of cannabis herb into Ireland via Dublin Port, with customs officers discovering 15 kg of the drug concealed under the floor of a Renault van he drove from Holyhead. Humphrey, who had no prior convictions, claimed financial hardship and said he was paid €1,500 for driving the van. He admitted to travelling between Ireland and the UK to buy and sell horses and acknowledged that something "dodgy" was happening. Defence counsel presented letters from his wife and family, expressing shock and remorse, and argued that Humphrey was under severe financial pressure and did not know the full amount of drugs involved. The judge, taking into account his UK nationality and limited prison visits, imposed the four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence.