Raymond Molloy’s cannabis sentence cut to five years

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal quashed Raymond Molloy’s six-and-a-half-year prison sentence and reduced it to five years on 20 February 2018. No part of the new sentence was suspended.

Molloy pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin for sale or supply. The proceedings were reported on 20 February 2018.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardaí stopped a van driven by Molloy in Coolock during a surveillance operation and recovered 498kg of cannabis resin, then valued at €6.34 million. The report said threats had been made against Molloy and his horses.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six and a half years in prison in May 2017. The judge said Molloy had been mature enough to decide whether to involve himself in the operation.

At the appeal, defence barrister Orla Crowe SC said Molloy had made no gain from his 30-minute involvement and had been under considerable pressure. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Darragh Hayes BL, said Molloy had played an essential role despite his limited involvement and had received a significant discount for mitigation.

Giving judgment for the three-judge appeal court, Mr Justice John Edwards said Molloy’s involvement was limited to 30 minutes and there was no evidence of financial gain. He considered Molloy’s guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, mental-health difficulties, remorse and cooperation, and said he was at no risk of reoffending.

Mr Justice Edwards said an appropriate headline sentence was seven and a half years. He said there was no need to suspend any of the five-year sentence because Molloy did not need rehabilitation and was unlikely to offend again.