A former company director, Tim Gilchrist, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for smuggling €8.4 million worth of cocaine from France into Ireland on a light aircraft. Gilchrist, from Co Waterford, claimed he did so under duress after being threatened to harm his daughter. The lack of security at both the French and Irish aerodromes highlighted the ease of drug smuggling.
Despite his claims of coercion, Gilchrist was found guilty of willingly participating in drug trafficking for financial gain. He received a sentence of 11-and-a-half years with the final six months suspended. The judge emphasized the need for increased security at airfields to prevent the country from being exposed to drug importation.
Gilchrist, a former director of meat companies, was caught with 120kg of cocaine in his car after landing at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome. Despite his limited assistance in the investigation, he was found guilty of playing a significant role in the drug trafficking operation.
Overall, the case sheds light on the challenges of combating drug smuggling and the importance of securing airfields to prevent such criminal activities.