Courts / Dublin / Report
'Mercy plea' over €2.5m cocaine importation falls short
Summary
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, Dmitrijs Venskovics, a 45‑year‑old Latvian farmer turned lorry driver, was denied a reduction of his eight‑year jail sentence for the importation of 36 kg of cocaine. Venskovics had pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the drugs for sale or supply on 24 April 2020 at a Maxol service station in Donabate. He claimed he was paid €200 to place the cocaine in his lorry and that he had no serious financial gain from the contraband. His counsel argued that his client, who suffers from a heart condition and does not speak English, should have part of the sentence suspended so he could return to Latvia. The Director of Public Prosecutions maintained that the eight‑year term was within the ambit of previous sentences for similar offences.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Mercy plea' over €2.5m cocaine importation falls short. Charges or matters: having the 36Kg of cocaine for sale or supply on April 24, 2020 at Maxol service station at Stafffordstown, Donabate, Co Dublin. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- April 24, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-02-11 Publication
Why: He began working as an international HGV driver because his farm wasn't making enough money for him to feed his family, the court was told. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: having the 36Kg of cocaine for sale or supply on April 24, 2020 at Maxol service station at Stafffordstown, Donabate, Co Dublin (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Dmitrijs Venskovics (45), with a Latvian address, was jailed for eight years after he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the 36Kg of cocaine for sale or supply on April 24, 2020 at Maxol service station at Stafffordstown, Donabate, Co Dublin. He later appealed the severity of the sentence imposed by Judge Martin Nolan in Nolan in November 2020.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
- Mater Hospital
Topics
Related court reports
- Dublin riots looter who got 'caught up in the momentum' avoids jail
- 'Sneaky' offender stole from elderly man while pretending to be bank official
- 'Anyone involved should be punished' - shop workers reveal terror on night of Dublin riots
- DHL ordered to pay €18k redundancy after relocation left worker facing five-hour commute
- First defendants to be sentenced after landmark rulings get nine years for murdering Steakhouse assassin
- €100,000 payouts for restaurant staff after murder at Browne's Steakhouse
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request