Courts / Kildare / Report
Two-year sentence for pensioner caught moving €420k in cocaine
Summary
Eamon Larkin, a 69‑year‑old man from Kilcock, was found guilty of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on 12 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Skoda in Ashbourne, discovering six kilos of cocaine in the boot, valued at €420,000. Larkin admitted he was approached in a pub and offered €200 to transport the drugs, though he claimed he did not know the type of drug. CCTV showed him swapping vehicles with another man at a petrol station an hour before the Skoda was seized. He has six prior road‑traffic convictions and has been living in Portugal. The court noted his poor physical and mental health, financial pressure, and long work history. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea and mitigation, sentencing Larkin to two years' imprisonment. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence while considering his health and cooperation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Two-year sentence for pensioner caught moving €420k in cocaine. Charges or matters: possession of cocaine for sale or supply on June 12, 2023 at the N2, The Ward, Dublin 11. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 12, 2023 Incident
- 2024-05-14 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of cocaine for sale or supply on June 12, 2023 at the N2, The Ward, Dublin 11 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He noted that a custodial sentence will be more difficult for Larkin due to his poor health, adding that he would have imposed a term of between four and five years on a "healthy man". "I think he has to undergo a period in custody for his wrongdoing," Judge Nolan said, handing Larkin a two-year sentence.
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