Judge jails farmer for possessing drugs

• Published date: 12 April 2024
• Author: DAVID RALEIGH
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

A Co Limerick farmer who admitted possessing more than €500,000 of cocaine, heroin and tablets has been sentenced to six years in prison with the final 18 months suspended

Charles Magill (61), with addresses at Knockainey and Rivers, Lisnagry, told gardaí he was delivering drugs for unnamed criminals to pay off a drug debt his then partner had accrued.

Magill and convicted drug dealer Vincent Collopy were arrested during a Garda operation which resulted in the seizure of €1.4 million of cocaine, heroin and tablets on May 29th, 2022.

He pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including two counts of possessing almost €600,000 of drugs for sale or supply, as well as to having €49,000 in cash, contrary to money laundering legislation.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said gardaí observed Magill delivering a drugs package in Corbally, Co Clare and later saw a vehicle arriving to retrieve it. As gardaí pursued this vehicle, they observed one of the...