Courts / Dublin / Report

"Desperate" courier gets 6.5 years for moving €1.5m in cannabis

Summary

John Fortune, 43, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years in prison for his role in a €1.5 million cannabis trafficking scheme. He agreed to drive a van loaded with nearly 80 kg of cannabis from Carlow to Rathcoole. Fortune had no prior convictions and had built a €50,000 tax debt, defaulted on his mortgage, and was facing repossession of his home. He claimed financial desperation and a foot injury had prevented him from working. Garda surveillance stopped the van, revealing vacuum‑packed cannabis labelled "trip haze", "diesel haze" and "green poison". The drugs were valued at just under €1.5 million. The court noted his limited involvement, financial distress, and mental health issues, and imposed a headline sentence of 13 years, halved to 6.5 years. Fortune received no payment for his role, and he had no prior Garda record. John Fortune pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Desperate" courier gets 6.5 years for moving €1.5m in cannabis. Charges or matters: possession of drugs for sale or supply at the N7, Naas Road, Rathcoole. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• Christmas Incident
• 2019-12-13 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report