A ferry passenger was yesterday toasting the return of his half-share in 2,500 bottles of beer and 48 bottles of wine seized from him by customs officers nearly four years ago. Judge James McDonnell ordered that Sean Francis Gallagher (44), Newgrove Estate, Donaghmede, Dublin, be compensated for the drink he had bought in France for a wedding and for his birthday party.
Customs claimed the State was right to seek their forfeiture because Mr Gallagher failed to show the goods were for personal rather than commercial use. Dublin District Court heard customs had since disposed of the goods because the beer's sell-by date was February 1997 and the wine was a sparkling Liebfraumilch which did not keep. Mr Gallagher had been stopped driving a van by members of the Customs National Drugs Team for a drugs search as he came off the Rosslare ferry. No drugs were found but, along with the beer and wine, officers discovered bed linen bearing the Irish Ferries logo. The linen had been stolen from the ferry and Mr Gallagher admitted the offence in Wexford District Court, claiming he had taken it as a favour for a member of the ship's staff.