Courts / Kilkenny / Report
Man caught with €480k in cannabis has sentence more than halved
Summary
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, Dung Tran, a 41‑year‑old Vietnamese man who had arrived in Ireland at 18 and was an Irish citizen, was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment for possessing €480,000 worth of cannabis. The original sentence, handed down by Kilkenny Circuit Court in May 2020, had two years suspended. Tran was caught on 6 February 2019 when Gardaí stopped his black Mercedes in Rathcash, Co. Kilkenny, after it was observed overtaking at about 160 kph. Gardaí noted a strong smell of cannabis, searched the vehicle and found six black refuse sacks in the boot containing vacuum‑packed cannabis. Tran pleaded guilty, cooperated fully, had no prior convictions, and had not applied for bail. He had lost his job before Christmas 2019 and had three children. The Court of Appeal, hearing arguments from Mr Séamus Clarke SC and Mr David Humphries BL, found that the 12‑year sentence was excessive.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man caught with €480k in cannabis has sentence more than halved. Charges or matters: the possession of €480,000 worth of cannabis when gardaí stopped him on February 6, 2019, after they observed a black Mercedes overtake them at a speed of around 160kph in the townland of Rathcash, Co Kilkenny. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 6, 2019 Incident
- February 7, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2019 Other
- Christmas Other
- 2021-02-01 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: the possession of €480,000 worth of cannabis when gardaí stopped him on February 6, 2019, after they observed a black Mercedes overtake them at a speed of around 160kph in the townland of Rathcash, Co Kilkenny (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Dung Tran (41) with a previous address at McWilliam Mews, Tallaght, Dublin 24, was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment with the last two suspended by Kilkenny Circuit Court in May of last year. Tran appealed the 12-year sentence on the grounds of severity.
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