BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN CAUGHT AT HOLYHEAD WITH FOUR ILLEGALS IN CAR

AN Irish born-again Christian caught trying to smuggle four Albanian illegal immigrants in a car through a Welsh ferry port was jailed for 21 months yesterday.

A judge also ordered the forfeiture of £500 and €255 found on Edward McDonagh, 35, of Northern Close, Dublin. He pleaded guilty to facilitating the attempted breach of immigration law in July.

McDonagh was married and had children, four having health problems, but a prison sentence with a degree of deterrence was called for, Judge Rhys Rowlands said at Caernarfon crown court.

Prosecuting barrister Richard Edwards said McDonagh paid in cash for a oneway journey from Dublin to Holyhead in Anglesey for a car with giving false names.

But when quizzed by border officials in Wales he seemed to not know his passengers and McDonagh said he was giving them a lift to Britain.

“He said he brought the Albanian nationals as a favour for a friend,” Mr Edwards added.

Desmond Lennon, defending, said the born-again Christian was of previous good character and a hard-working family man.

“It’s a tragedy to find him before the court in these circumstances,” the lawyer said. five occupants,

Mr Lennon said he had been returning a favour to a fellow traveller while facing a combination of pressures.

“There was a temptation to get some easy money. This was a venture that was never going to succeed,” the barrister said.

“It was a very ill-judged decision to get himself involved in this.”

Judge Rowlands said the had been returned to Ireland.

“You didn’t know any of them. Your motivation was a financial one,” the judge told McDonagh. “The integrity of the immigration system is something the courts have to maintain.” Albanians