Courts / Dublin / Report
"Oldest drug mule to come before the courts" sentenced to three years
Summary
In a 2015 Court of Appeal decision, Edward Rooney, 65, and Des Ryan, 55, were sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing €1.2 million worth of drugs. The appeal followed a 2013 conviction where both men received 10‑year suspended sentences for holding 4.5 kg of heroin and 227 g of cocaine. The Court of Appeal found the original suspended terms too lenient after a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court noted the men's financial pressure and the serious nature of the drugs, and applied a maximum mitigation to reduce the sentence to three years. The men were arrested after a Garda surveillance operation in Finglas, where a black hold‑all bag containing nine plastic bags of heroin and a bag of cocaine was recovered. The case highlighted the Court's willingness to impose imprisonment when the offence was serious and the value of the drugs substantial. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Oldest drug mule to come before the courts" sentenced to three years. Charges or matters: possessing 4.5kg of heroin and 227g of cocaine for sale or supply on April 5, 2012. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- October 2013 Incident
- April 5, 2012 Incident
- 2015-01-19 Publication
Why: Whether the men actually knew which drugs they were moving is of little relevance, Mr Justice Ryan said, because they were willing to get involved in the business whatever the particular drugs were to be transported. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: possessing 4.5kg of heroin and 227g of cocaine for sale or supply on April 5, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A man described as the "oldest drugs mule to come before the courts" and another man who received wholly suspended sentences for the possession of €1.2 million in drugs have been jailed for three years by the Court of Appeal. Last month the Court of Appeal found that the suspended 10-year sentences imposed on Edward Rooney (65) of Ballinacorribeg, Roundwood, Co.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- and brought to Finglas Garda Station
Topics
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