Courts / Dublin / Report

Former publican caught moving €2.5m in cocaine

Date
2021-03-18

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Former publican Charles Coyle (59), of Bough, Cootehill, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply in Lusk on April 24, 2020. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, declining to depart from the mandatory minimum of ten years despite defense counsel John Peart SC's submissions that Coyle had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and made full admissions regarding his role. The court found that Coyle acted as a transporter at the directions of others, rather than as the owner of the drugs. Coyle was caught after gardai, acting on confidential information, observed him take three boxes from a truck driven by Dmitrijs Venskovics (45) at a Dublin service station. Venskovics, who was convicted last November, was also jailed for eight years. During the search of Coyle's van, gardai seized one kilogram of cocaine under the front passenger seat and a further 35kg in a rear security compartment. Coyle, who has 20 previous convictions, claimed he was paid €2,000 to transport the items, which he described as vegetables and hand sanitisers. The judge noted that Coyle's actions represented a grievous error of judgement, particularly given his age and experience.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former publican caught moving €2.5m in cocaine. Charges or matters: possession of the drugs for sale or supply in Lusk on April 24, 2020; his own role. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 24, 2020 Incident
2021-03-18 Publication

Case subjects

Charles Coyle

Defendant

Charges: possession of the drugs for sale or supply in Lusk on April 24, 2020; his own role (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Peart submitted that the court could depart from the mandatory minimum of ten years imprisonment taking into account that Coyle had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and made full admissions as to his own role. He said he saw no reason to depart from the sentence imposed on the truck driver and imposed an eight-year sentence on Coyle.

Dmitrijs Venskovics

Convicted Person

Charges: his own role (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Dmitrijs Venskovics (45), was jailed for eight years last November.