A man jailed for three years for having almost €16 million worth of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply has had his sentenced increased to seven years.
The Court of Criminal Appeal agreed with arguments on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions that a five-year sentence - with the last two years suspended - that was imposed at the trial in December 2004 of Julian Gilloughley (28) was too lenient.
The court decided today that the appropriate sentence should be seven years.
At his trial before Dublin Circuit Court, Gilloughley pleaded guilty to possession for sale and supply of nearly a metric ton of cannabis resin worth €12.42 million and 78 blocks of cocaine worth €3.08 million in April 2003.
Det Garda Lorraine Travers told the trial that, after receiving confidential information, a large number of gardaí had followed a lorry from the main Dublin-Belfast road until it turned into a container yard at Treen Hill, Lusk, Co Dublin.
Det Garda Travers said there were signs of recent welding in the trailer part of the lorry and further investigation revealed 36 bales of cannabis in a hidden compartment under the floor of the vehicle.
Gardaí also uncovered 30.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a shed at the home of a co-accused.
In the court today, Mr Fergal Foley for the DPP argued that, when imposing sentence, there had been a lack of balance between the personal circumstances of Gilloughley and the seriousness of the crime.
He argued the trial judge placed too high a weight on particular mitigating factors, including Gilloughley's plea of guilty and that Gilloughley was under duress and had co-operated with the gardaí.
Mr Foley said this was one of the largest ever drug seizures in the State. In terms of a bank robbery, it could be compared to the recent raid on the Northern Bank in Belfast, counsel added.
Mr George Birmingham SC, for Gilloughley, said it was possible to be a minor player in a very serious offence. His client had indicated to the gardaí his willingness to be a prosecution witness and that was unique. A gun had been put to his client's head and he had acted under duress, counsel added.
The CCA accepted that there were considerable mitigating and exceptional circumstances, including that Gilloughley had given evidence against a co-accused, the judge said. However, given the seriousness of the crime and the amount of drugs involved, the CCA believed the sentence imposed was too light.