Pubdate: Fri, 15 Sep 2000
Source: Irish Examiner (Ireland)
Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 2000
Contact:  http://www.examiner.ie/
Author: Isabel Conway

MEMBERS OF GANG LINKED TO DUBLIN GANGLAND BOSS ARE JAILED

Members of a Dutch based international drugs gang, allegedly headed by 
Dublin gangland figure, John Cunningham, have been jailed for plotting to 
transport huge quantities of ecstasy pills and Cannabis resin between the 
Netherlands and Ireland.

Two Englishmen, described as "cogs in the wheel of a major drug smuggling 
operation" were given prison sentences of two years at Amsterdam District 
Court yesterday.

Judges refused to release one of the accused, a 72 year old pensioner, who 
suffered a stroke while on remand in prison on humanitarian grounds and is 
said to be seriously ill. The court had heard earlier that both men were 
close associates of Jennifer Guinness kidnapper John Cunningham whose own 
trial on charges connected to an pounds 8 million drugs and weapons 
smuggling operation is due to start in Holland next month.

He escaped from an open prison in Ireland while serving out a 17 year jail 
term for his part in the kidnapping of Mrs Guinness in 1986.

On the orders of the Presiding Judge, media were banned from identifying 
the accused Englishmen except by their initials, CW, 48, a salesman from 
Sheffield and TW, his 72 year old accomplice from Cronkil in the North of 
England.

Convicting them the judges said there was overwhelming evidence that they 
knowingly took part in a "highly professional" drugs smuggling operation. 
They had come to Holland to pack and help transport 1,020 kilos of cannabis 
and 100,960 ecstasy tablets intended for Irish based dealers, the court had 
heard.

Presiding Judge J.C. Boeree said the scale of the crime had posed "a very 
serious threat to the health of society", involving as it did very large 
amounts of E tablets, a classified hard drug in Holland. The light sentence 
was in recognition of the fact that they were a link in the chain and under 
the command of others in the case yet to come to trial, she added.

The drugs gang members sentenced yesterday were also convicted of 
possession of two pistols and a revolver together with a quantity of 
ammunition.
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