Courts / Cork / Report
Police killer has sentence reduced over largest drugs seizure in history of the State
Summary
Perry Wharrie, 56, from Loughton, Essex, was sentenced to 30 years in 2008 for his role in Ireland's largest drug seizure of €440 million, a haul that went awry at Dunlough Bay in 2007. He pleaded not guilty to possession for sale or supply and was found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury. Wharrie's appeal in 2016 was successful; the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that the original judge had erred by not fully crediting Wharrie's refusal to give false evidence and by not considering his prior life sentence in England for the murder of PC Frank Mason. The appeal reduced his term to 17 ½ years, with a five‑year discount for good conduct, and the sentence is to run from the date of his initial custody. Wharrie's case was the last before the Court of Criminal Appeal before it was succeeded by the Court of Appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Police killer has sentence reduced over largest drugs seizure in history of the State. Charges or matters: possession of the drugs for sale or supply, was unanimously found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on July 23 2008. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 2 2007 Incident
- July 23 2008 Incident
- 2016-02-15 Publication
Why: Although that fact was noted by the judge, Wharrie didn't get that mitigation because of his very serious criminal record, Mr Justice Hunt said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: possession of the drugs for sale or supply, was unanimously found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on July 23 2008 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Wharrie, who had pleaded not guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply, was unanimously found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on July 23 2008. Two of Wharrie's accomplices, who also pleaded not guilty, were sentenced to 30 years and 25 years respectively for the same offence.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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