Courts / Dublin / Report

Dad-of-eight gets nine years for moving €2.5m in cannabis

Date
2022-10-12
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

George Finglas, 46, of North Circular Road, Dublin, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for transporting over €2.5 million worth of cannabis. On 2 February 2021, Revenue officials and a sniffer dog discovered two pallets of cannabis herb, concealed under portable gas heaters, at Dublin Port. Gardai set up a surveillance operation and carried out a controlled delivery to an industrial estate in west Dublin. Finglas, acting as a transporter, was directed by an unidentified "Suspect B" to unload the pallets into a rented van. He later drove the van to a commercial premises in Baldongan, Lusk, where he was arrested. Mobile phones recovered from the van contained encrypted messages referencing the drugs and payments. Finglas admitted moving the drugs under direction, citing a €25 000 gambling debt and fear of creditors. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of drugs and had earlier suspended sentences for assault and a drunk‑driving conviction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dad-of-eight gets nine years for moving €2.5m in cannabis. Charges or matters: possession for sale or supply of the drugs. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: Ms Murphy submitted to the court that her client was vulnerable because of his gambling problem and that others had exploited this vulnerability. CNI source report

Case subjects

George Finglas

Defendant

Charges: possession for sale or supply of the drugs (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: The court heard that Finglas previously received suspended prison sentences for convictions of assault causing harm, two in 2011 and one in 2014.

Places mentioned

Residence
Secondary Mention
Journey Or Route
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request