Courts / Dublin / Report

Pair jailed over €3.4m cocaine operation

Date
2019-05-24

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Wayne Duffy (46) and Darren Coughlan (46) were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Both men admitted to the offence, which involved transporting 49kg of cocaine with a street value of €3,435,000. Judge Patricia Ryan described the incident as a planned and premeditated operation. Duffy, of Clonee, Dublin 15, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, while Coughlan, of Dunboyne, Co Meath, received a six-year sentence. Both sentences were backdated to December 6, the date they first went into custody. A third man, Bernadus Jozef Scherrenberg (47), was sentenced earlier this year to seven years' imprisonment for the same offence after pleading guilty in the District Court. The court heard that the drugs were concealed in plastic tubs within a Peugeot with a hidden hydraulic compartment. During a search of Coughlan's home, €45,250 in cash was found in a shed. Judge Ryan noted Duffy's 11 previous convictions, including three for drug offences, while acknowledging his cooperation with gardaí. For Coughlan, the judge considered his lack of significant prior convictions and his role as the least involved participant in the enterprise. Both defendants had pleaded guilty early in the process.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pair jailed over €3.4m cocaine operation. Charges or matters: the same offence. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 6 Incident
2019-05-24 Publication

Case subjects

Bernadus Jozef Scherrenberg

Convicted Person

Charges: the same offence (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Bernadus Jozef Scherrenberg (47) was sentenced earlier this year to seven years imprisonment for the same offence. She backdated both sentences to the first date both men went into custody, December 6, last.

Darren Coughlan

Convicted Person

Charges: the same offence (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: A third man, Bernadus Jozef Scherrenberg (47) was sentenced earlier this year to seven years imprisonment for the same offence. Judge Ryan sentenced Duffy to nine years' imprisonment and sentenced Coughlan to six years' imprisonment.

Wayne Duffy

Convicted Person

Charges: the same offence (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Judge Ryan sentenced Duffy to nine years' imprisonment and sentenced Coughlan to six years' imprisonment. She backdated both sentences to the first date both men went into custody, December 6, last.