Courts / Meath / Report
Impoverished Vietnamese trafficked in to Ireland to cultivate cannabis have balance of new sentences suspended
Summary
Two Vietnamese nationals, Ba Nguyen (44) and Ha Nguyen (49), were found guilty of cultivating cannabis at a commercial premises in County Meath on 20 November 2012. They had been trafficked into Ireland and lived in rudimentary conditions on site. The original sentences of six years each, with the final two years suspended, were imposed by Judge Michael O'Shea on 14 November 2013. On 5 December 2014 the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Garrett Sheehan, imposed new three‑year sentences and unconditionally suspended the balance of those sentences from that day. The court cited the defendants' impoverished circumstances, lack of prior convictions, and the fact that they were not free agents in determining the reduced, suspended sentences. The decision was upheld by President Justice Seán Ryan. The defendants had no significant financial gain from the operation and were not involved in its financing or logistics.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Impoverished Vietnamese trafficked in to Ireland to cultivate cannabis have balance of new sentences suspended. Charges or matters: the cultivation of cannabis at a commercial premises in Co Meath on November 20 2012. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 20 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 14 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-12-05 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the cultivation of cannabis at a commercial premises in Co Meath on November 20 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: They were sentenced by Judge Michael O'Shea to six years imprisonment each with the final two years suspended at Trim Circuit Criminal Court on November 14 2013. Having considered the submissions and in "particularly in light of the personal circumstances" of both appellants, the Court of Appeal quashed their sentences.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Trim
- Trim Circuit Criminal Court
- The street
Topics
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