Two and a half years for British man importing drugs

By Fiona Ferguson

An English man who transported almost €50,000 of cannabis into Ireland to pay off a drug debt has been given a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

Alexander Kay (26) initially told gardai he smoked cannabis and was bringing it home from Thailand as it was cheaper to buy there, but later admitted it was not for his own use.

Kay of Jupiter Grove, Wigan, United Kingdom, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the importation of cannabis at Dublin Airport on November 21, 2024. He has no previous convictions.

Garda Noel McBrearty told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, that customs officers found an anomaly in Kay’s baggage as he was transiting through Dublin from Abu Dhabi, on his return from Thailand.

Gda McBrearty said cannabis valued at just under €50,000 was found in Kay’s luggage.

Michael Hourican SC, defending, said the reality was that his client was bringing the drugs back to clear a drug debt.

He asked the court to take into account his early guilty plea and co-operation in relation to his own role. He said he committed the offence at the behest of others to whom he owed money.

He outlined Kay’s personal circumstances and told the court he had been studying engineering at Salford University but took a study break to travel. He was also involved in sport to a significant extent, including a trial with a football club. Mr Hourican handed in several testimonials.

Mr Hourican said his client had a good start in life but fell into recreational drug use and alcohol misuse against the backdrop of his parents’ marriage breakup. He said Kay had been on a good path, but stumbled and suggested that when this case is dealt with, he will resume a positive path.

Counsel said Kay has been using his time in custody well, but will serve his time away from home.

Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of five years but imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, noting there was substantial mitigation in the case.