Drugs hidden in trailer

A Kilmessan father was given a five year prison sentence after being found with over €200,000 worth of cocaine being transported using a trailer’s hidden compartment

Dennis Boggan (43), from Mountlands Kilmessan was in Trim Circuit Court after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale and supply.

Garda Gary Duke told the court on 23rd October last year a search warrant was executed at an address in Rathmolyon, Meath. Three kilograms of cocaine valued at €210,392, a hydraulic press and kilo bags were seized.

Mr Boggan was arrested after the search and told Gardai when being interviewed he had a hidden compartment in his trailer which he used to transport the drugs. He later pleaded guilty in the courts and has been in custody since the day of his arrest.

The accused has one previous conviction in Bologna, France for facilitating or allowing the illegal entry of a foreign national in 2017 and was given a two year prison sentence.

Defending Barrister SC Kathleen Leader told the court his client was in financial difficulty due to the breakup in his marriage. He moved into his mother’s home and began improving its facilities for both his mother and his children when they visited while at the same time paying for maintenance on his previous home and three children. His working hours were also reduced so he could support the children when he had custody. SC Leader told the court “he took on the wrong type of work and he has to pay the price for it”.

He has acquired a number of qualifications during his time in custody including a Red Cross award. Judge John Martin said “It is a shame that capacity for hard work turned you down this route”.

The Judge also said turning to crime to support his family is a “rather thin explanation for criminality”, saying the accused could work another job or at night.

Mr Boggan was sentenced to five years in prison with an additional one year suspended for two years following his release.