Courts / Limerick / Report

Bail for man wanted over Rhino horn trafficking

Date
2020-04-03
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Rathkeale
County
Limerick

Summary

John Slattery, a 30‑year‑old Limerick man who has changed his name to John Flynn, was granted bail by the High Court while awaiting extradition to the United States on allegations of wildlife trafficking. Slattery is accused of three offences in the US involving the purchase and sale of endangered black rhino horn. US authorities claim he and two others bought horns for $18,000 in Austin, Texas, then sold them for $50,000 in New York, and later bought additional horns for $10,000 between April and November 2010. They also allege that in early 2011 six horns were sold for $260,000 at an auction in Macon, Missouri. Slattery has spent about nine months in custody and has consented to extradition, but the Covid‑19 crisis has delayed the handover.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bail for man wanted over Rhino horn trafficking. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: The men were initially unable to buy the horns because they were not local residents, so they enlisted the help of a Texan man – a "straw buyer" – to complete the purchase, according to US authorities. CNI source report

Case subjects

John Slattery

Accused

Outcome: Mr Lynam said efforts by a Texas lawyer in respect of a potential "plea bargain" suggested the ultimate sentence Mr Slattery was facing was one year in prison. Mr Justice Hunt said that while the information provided suggested that Mr Slattery was facing a prison sentence of around one year, there was a risk this could be less than the time he spends on remand.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • High Court
Residence
Garda Station
  • himself to Henry Street Garda station
  • Henry Street

Topics

Stage Sentence

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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