Kerry man Nathan McDonnell has been jailed for 12 years for his part in attempting to smuggle €32.4m worth of crystal meth from Mexico to Australia. 44-year-old McDonnell of Ballyroe, Tralee, pleaded guilty in October to two charges relating to the seizure of the drugs at Cork Port 12 months ago.
540 kilos of meth was stored at Ballyseedy Garden Centre between October 2023 and February 2024. On Friday 16th February last year, Nathan McDonnell was arrested at the Garden Centre, which he co-owned and operated, after the drugs seizure, the largest ever seizure of crystal meth in the history of the state.
McDonnell appeared at the non-jury Special Criminal Court today where he was handed down a 12-year sentence for attempting to traffick drugs, which arrived here from Mexico, destined destined for Australia prior to their interception.
McDonnell wore a disposable face mask, after he had his jaw broken in Portlaoise prison last weekend. He pleaded guilty to two charges connected to the drugs seizure; that he imported the drugs into Ireland in October 2023, and facilitated the activities of a local organised crime group, with links to the infamous Sinaloa cartel.
Ms Justice Greally said that his importing of the drugs helped a criminal organisation, and that he carried out several tasks for this operation, which involved a high level of trust and responsibility, and to call him a cog in the wheel undermines his role.
Ms Justice Greally set a headline sentence of 21 years for the drug importation, and 12 years for facilitating a criminal gang. Taking account of mitigating factors, including his early guilty plea, his co-operation, previous good character, and the shame and embarrassment already suffered by his family, these were reduced to 12 and six years respectively, with both to be served concurrently.
She also told the court the most punitive aspect, was that he will be absent from his sons for the majority of their childhood years, and she acknowledged his experience of prison will be very challenging.
