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 Pair sentenced to 12 and 14 years for drugs conspirancy 11/19/2009 - 1:49:41 PM Two men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 12 and 14 years imprisonment for “overseeing the safe transfer and distribution onwards” of drugs from a cache valued at more than €2m. The cannabis resin was found by gardaí in 14 boxes split between a Ford Transit van and an Opel Astra car in Browns Barn Public house car park. The two men were arrested nearby. William Hynes (aged 43) of Park Close, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath and John Mangan (aged 41) of Whitestown Green, Blanchardstown, were found guilty following a seven day trial last month of conspiring with others to possess cannabis resin and conspiring with others to possess the drug for sale or supply on July 31, 2006. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a 12-year sentence on Hynes and a 14-year sentence on Mangan. Mangan was on bail for a previous drugs offence at the time and will begin the term when his current sentence ends. Judge McCartan noted both men were “deeply committed and involved in the drugs trade.” A co-accused, Darren Hamilton (aged 24), was given a nine year sentence with the last 18 months suspended by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on July 31, 2009 for his part in this operation. Hamilton, of Kippure Park, Finglas, had pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Browns Barn on July 31, 2006. Judge Delahunt noted Hamilton was not the mastermind in this crime but said he was an essential cog in the wheel. She acknowledged that he may have been in fear of the people he was doing business with. Mangan is currently serving a 14-year sentence imposed in May 2008 for possession of cannabis resin valued at €341,787 for sale or supply on February 4, 2006 in Drumcondra and possession of a firearm, which he claimed was for his own protection, in the Comet Pub, Santry on August 24, 2007. The final four years were suspended. Hynes was previously jailed for six and a half years on February 7, 2000 after he pleaded guilty to possession of 210 kilos of cannabis with a street value of IR£2,010,000 with intent to supply on April 5, 1998. Judge McCartan said the men were “involved in overseeing the safe transfer and distribution of drugs onwards” and their movements in the area only explicable by their involvement in this offence. He commended the Garda operation and said the quantity of the drugs illustrated the scale of our drug problem. Detective Garda John McMonagle told Mr Eanna Mulloy SC (with Mr Paul Carroll BL), prosecuting, that 354 kilograms of cannabis resin in 14 vacuum packed boxes, with a street value of €2.5m, was unloaded from an articulated truck at Baldonnell industrial estate and loaded into a white Ford Transit van. Det Gda McMonagle said a green Citroen C5 driven by Hynes and with Mangan as a passenger travelled to Clonee where Mangan got into an Opel Astra. The two cars then traveled in convoy towards Clonsilla and ultimately to Browns Barn where Mangan left the Opel Astra unlocked in the car park. Gardaí observed the movements of Mangan in the area, initially on foot, and later as a passenger in the green Citroen C5 driven by Hynes which remained in the area making loops of the roundabouts and flyover. Det Gda McMonagle said Hamilton drove the Transit van to the Browns Barn car park and parked it beside the Opel Astra. He transferred four boxes containing 81kg of cannabis, with a street value of about half a million euro, to the back seat of the unlocked and unoccupied Opel Astra. Gardaí arrested Hamilton as he drove from the scene and arrested Hynes and Mangan nearby as they attempted to flee the area in the green Citroen C5. Det Gda McMonagle said Mangan had 26 previous convictions for offences which included possession of firearms in suspicious circumstances, possession of drugs, as well as public order and road traffic offences. He said Hynes had eight previous convictions including a previous drugs offences. Det Gda McMonagle said gardaí did not have a record of either man ever being meaningfully employed. He said he had been surprised by a mention of now deceased Martin “Marlo” Hyland by Mangan as he gave evidence on his own behalf. Mangan told his defence counsel, Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC (Mr William Galvin BL), that he had driven the Opel Astra to Browns Barn as a favour for “Mr Martin Hyland”. He said he had been interested in buying the car for his son but that there was finance outstanding on the car so he was delivering it to be repossessed by the owners. Mangan said himself and Hynes had been planning to get something to eat in Browns Barn afterwards but did “a u-turn” when they saw how full the car park was and they were not attempting to flee. Det Gda McMonagle said no finance company or car owners had since come forward to collect the Opel Astra. Mr Sean Gillane SC (with Mr Philip Fennell BL), defending Mr Hynes, said his client was a father of four and had a difficult domestic situation in his childhood when he had assumed a caring role for his siblings. He said he has held a number of jobs in the construction industry. He does not have a drug addiction. Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC (Mr William Galvin BL), defending Mangan, said his client was a father of two and had problems with cocaine and alcohol abuse at the time of these offences. He said Hynes had worked as a motor cycle courier for over ten years. Judge McCarton made an order forfeiting the Opel Astra and the Citroen C5 to the State. |
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