Sentence for ‘oldest drugs mule to come before the courts’ found to be too lenient

THE Court of Appeal has found that wholly suspended 10-year sentences imposed on a Roundwood man described as the ‘oldest drugs mule to come before the courts’ and another man for the possession of €1.2 million in drugs were too lenient.

Edward Rooney (65) of Ballinacorribeg, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow and Des Ryan (55) of Belfield Springs, Enniscorthy, were arrested after a surveillance operation in a pub car park in Finglas in 2012.

Mr Rooney, driving a Ford Mondeo, was seen parking alongside a truck driven by Mr Ryan and walking over to the driver’s window. Ryan was then seen handing over a black hold-all bag which Rooney put in the car boot and drove off. Both men were arrested very shortly afterwards and brought to Finglas Garda Station.

Gardaí found packages of heroin worth €1.26 million, and one bag of cocaine worth €15,939.

In October 2013 Judge Desmond Hogan handed down suspended terms of 10 years to both men after they pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply.

The court heard that the men had been under financial pressure when they agreed to transport and collect a bag containing drugs from the UK to Ireland.

President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Sean Ryan said on Monday that the court was satisfied that there was undue leniency in the sentence and adjourned the matter to January 19.