Nathan McDonnell, from Ballyroe in Tralee, allowed a machine containing bags of crystal meth to be stored in a warehouse at his family’s garden centre.
The Special Criminal Court has jailed a Kerry businessman for twelve years for his role in an international multi-million-euro drugs operation involving a Mexican cartel.
Nathan McDonnell, from Ballyroe in Tralee, allowed a machine containing bags of crystal meth to be stored in a warehouse at his family’s garden centre.
Nathan McDonnell has no previous criminal record and before he found himself on the garda radar in relation to this, he was a well-respected businessman.
He employed hundreds of people through the Ballyseedy Garden Centre in Tralee and associated businesses – a local empire built up by three generations of his family.
The 44-year-old father-of-three stored a machine on his business premises for a number of months before he arranged for its onward transport to Australia.
The machine was seized at Cork Pork. Half a tonne of crystal meth, worth €32.4m, was found hidden inside.
He claimed he had no idea what he was getting into, but the judges said he could have joined the dots.
To describe him as a “mere cog is to undervalue his role,” they said.
Taking his otherwise clean record, admissions, and other mitigating factors into account, the judges jailed him today for twelve years.
Jury Delivers Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity Verdict In Ballyfin Demesne Strangling Case
Gardaí Arrest Third Suspect As Part Of Investigation Into Multi-County Crime Spree, Including In Kildare
Entire Country Under Status Yellow Ice Warning From Tomorrow
Government To Review HAP After Report Finds No Homes Available Within Limits
Kfm Remains Kildare’s Most Listened-To Station In Latest JNLR Report
Three Days After Attending A&E For Help - Kildare Dad Dies By Suicide
Government Told To Sue Kill-Based Contractor BAM Over Children's Hospital Delays
McGregor And Suzanne Jackson Issued Compliance Notices Over Undisclosed Ads
