Courts / Dublin / Report

British drug smuggler who appealed sentence despite discount withdraws appeal after court warning

Summary

Ainsley Stevenson, a British national from Halifax, has withdrawn his appeal against a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2024. Stevenson pleaded guilty to smuggling over 30kg of cannabis into Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport on October 17, 2023. He was apprehended alongside co-accused Dylan Shears, of Bradford, after customs officers questioned them regarding suspect suitcases arriving from Las Vegas. Gardaí discovered 64 vacuum-packed packages of cannabis valued at €690,000. The sentencing judge, Judge Martin Nolan, noted that Stevenson would have received a six-and-a-half-year term had he been an Irish citizen, while Shears received a three-year sentence due to his younger age. Neither accused had previous convictions. When the matter was called before the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy warned counsel that the court possessed the power to increase the sentence. Following this warning, counsel for Stevenson, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, sought time to confer with his client. Upon recall, Mr Ó Lideadha stated he had been instructed to withdraw the appeal. Mr Justice McCarthy granted permission to withdraw, noting that Stevenson had adopted a prudent course and should recognize the seriousness of the charges. The matter was adjourned with the appeal withdrawn.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: British drug smuggler who appealed sentence despite discount withdraws appeal after court warning. Charges or matters: smuggling over 30kg of the drug into Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport on October 17, 2023. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• October 17, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-06-19 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report