Courts / Wexford / Report

Cash collector for drugs gang gets sent to jail after sentence found too lenient

Date
2021-02-04
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Wexford
County
Wexford

Summary

Ciaran Long, 37, of Barntown, Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to possessing €201,000 in proceeds of criminal conduct under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. He was found to have acted as a "drugs mule," collecting money for a gang and handing it to an unnamed recipient. The original sentence was a four‑year headline with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year fully suspended term, reduced by 18 months for mitigating factors such as no prior convictions and an apology. The Court of Appeal deemed the sentence too lenient, re‑sentencing Long to a six‑year headline and a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended term. He must report to Wexford Garda station on 18 February to begin his jail term. The decision reflects the seriousness of the offence and the role Long played in the gang's cash handling.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cash collector for drugs gang gets sent to jail after sentence found too lenient. Charges or matters: possessing €201,000, which were the proceeds of criminal conduct, at the same address, on March 27, 2017, under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Ciaran Long

Defendant

Charges: possessing €201,000, which were the proceeds of criminal conduct, at the same address, on March 27, 2017, under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: The Court of Appeal found that in addition to the sentencing judge's identification of a lenient four year sentence, Long then received a discount of 18 months for mitigating factors together with a suspension of the balance, yielding a sentence of two-and-a-half years suspended in its entirety. The court re-sentenced Long to two-and-a-half years in prison.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Wexford
  • Wexford Circuit Criminal Court
Secondary Mention
Facility
  • Long's house
Garda Station
  • present himself at Wexford Garda station
  • Wexford

Topics

Drugs Fraud Stage Appeal

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