Convicted drug dealer and former soccer club boss moved to Midlands jail
Andrew Noonan was jailed for 13-and-a-half years in relation to his 'high' level role in a €2.7 million heroin importation enterprise last month
CONVICTED drug dealer and the former soccer club boss, Andrew Noonan has been transferred from Mountjoy to the Midlands Prison.
Sources said the former manager of Bluebell United in Dublin, who was jailed for 13-and-a-half years in relation to his 'high' level role in a €2.769 million heroin importation enterprise last month – was moved for 'operational reasons.'
These are understood to relate to the chronic overcrowding currently being experience by inmates in Mountjoy.
Noonan role in the heroin importation scheme was discovered after gardaí posed as delivery men in a controlled delivery of the drugs to a co-accused, Keith Quinn (36)
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard last month that gardaí believe 45-year-old Noonan had a supervisory role in relation to his co-accused Quinn and say Noonan's level in the overall context of the enterprise was 'high.'
Andrew Noonan
News in 90 Seconds - 7th June
Quinn pleaded guilty in relation to his own role and received a seven-and-a-half year sentence with the final three-and-a-half years suspended in 2021.
This was later increased by the Court of Appeal to eight years imprisonment with 18 months suspended. He has since been released.
Noonan, of Redhills Park, Ellistown, Co Kildare, was convicted following a trial of three drugs offences in relation to the possession, sale and supply of the drugs at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, on August 5th, 2020.
He was also convicted of possession of a phone with an encrypted application, Enigma, giving rise to a reasonable inference that it was to be used in connection with a drug trafficking offence. He was acquitted of possession of a signal blocker.
The court heard Noonan does not accept the verdict of the jury and denied any role in relation to the drugs.
Garda Redmond O'Leary of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau told John Berry SC, prosecuting, that in August 2020, British police authorities became suspicious of a package travelling through the UK. It was analysed and tested positive for heroin.
A garda operation involving a controlled delivery was put in place, and the package was delivered to Quinn's workplace in the Dublin industrial estate by a garda posing as a UPS driver.
Internal CCTV of the workplace showed Quinn taking out his phone and interacting with the package in what was later found to be a picture and text messages sent to Noonan. No suspicion attaches to Quinn's former workplace.
Quinn placed the package in his car and was observed driving in convoy with another car, driven by Noonan, to another office in the estate. Quinn got out, placed the package in the office and then drove in convoy with Noonan to a coffee shop where gardaí intercepted them.
Noonan was, at this stage, found in possession of the keys to the office where Quinn had placed the package. Three phones were also retrieved from Noonan's person and his car.
Passing sentence, Judge Elma Sheahan said foremost in the court's mind in sentencing was the devastating harm caused by the drugs trade, which the court deals with on a daily basis. She said the value and quantity of the seizure were also critical factors.
Judge Sheahan said at the time of this offending, Noonan was the manager of a soccer team and employed in a family business. She said he was in a position of trust and influence over young men.
She said this did not sit easy and offends all society expects from an individual in such a role.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man involved in theft of 12 e-scooters from Dublin business ‘ashamed of his actions'
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the 12 e-scooters, worth €7,780, have never been recovered A man involved in the 'opportunistic' theft of 12 electric scooters from a Dublin business has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the 12 e-scooters, worth €7,780, have never been recovered. Patrick Berry (40) of Labre Park, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 pleaded guilty to theft on November 16, 2020 from a storage unit at a business park in Ballymount. An investigating garda gave evidence that a patrol car was flagged down by men outside a storage complex in Ballymount. The injured party told gardai he had an e-scooter sale and repair business and his storage unit had been broken into. He said that he was not sure the shutter had closed properly when he left the unit two days earlier. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - June 20th CCTV played to the court showed a white van stopping outside the storage unit. The shutter was slightly open. The van's driver – who has not been identified – got out and looked under the shutter. He then got back into the van and parked it closer to the storage unit. After the shutter was lifted, Berry and the driver placed 12 boxed e-scooters in to the van. The shutter was then lowered and the van left the area. Berry was identified from the CCTV. When his address was searched on November 24, 2020, the white van was parked outside and seized by gardai. He was arrested and nothing of evidential value was obtained when he was interviewed by gardai. A victim impact statement was handed to the court but not read aloud. Berry has 30 previous convictions including eight for theft. All of his previous convictions were at the District Court and Berry has had no new offences since 2021, the court heard. The investigating garda agreed with defence counsel that Berry has addiction issues, which he has taken steps to address. The garda also accepted that testimonials on behalf of Berry are positive. Defence counsel said €3,200 had been gathered by his client's parents and was available in court as a token of remorse. He said Berry was apologetic and deeply ashamed of his actions. His client was using cocaine and crack cocaine. Berry has taken steps to address his addiction and is engaging with relevant services. Clean urine analysis was provided to the court, along with testimonials and an offer of trial employment Family members were also in court to support Berry. Judge Orla Crowe noted that this incident took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, and that it appeared the business park was 'quiet' at the time. The judge said this was an 'opportunistic' theft, which took place 'very quickly'. Referring to the victim impact statement, the judge noted while €7,780 may in some circumstances be a small amount for a business, for the injured party's business at that time it was 'almost existential'. Judge Crowe said the theft 'almost caused the collapse' of what was then a new business. She noted this caused great stress to the injured party. The judge noted the business had endured and the court commended them for that. The judge said it showed 'how one offence can have larger consequences'. Judge Crowe said the impact on the injured party, Berry's previous convictions and the value of the goods were aggravating factors. Having considered the mitigation, the judge imposed a sentence of two years and six months. Judge Crowe said the court wished to 'give this man a chance' and suspended the sentence on strict conditions, including that Berry remain drug-free, for four years. The judge also directed that the €3,200 brought to court should be paid to the injured party's company.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Toddler, 3, horrifically mauled by cockapoo had her ‘arm ripped open' as dad ‘held her skin together'
A THREE-year-old girl has been mauled by a cockapoo in a vicious attack that saw the child's arm ripped open by the designer dog. The young girl, Bunnie, was 4 Bunnie had to undergo plastic surgery to repair her arm Credit: SWNS 4 The attack left the three-year-old with brutal wounds Credit: SWNS Bunnie's father, Rowen Skinley, witnessed the Rowen was walking his three children to school when the cockapoo lunged at his daughter. She suffered Bunnie underwent plastic surgery after being rushed to hospital with surgeons attempting to stitch her torn skin back together. Read more in News Kent Police have confirmed they are Dad Rowan recalled having to "hold the skin on [Bunnie's] arm together" while she waited for treatment. According to reports Bunnie was attacked by a small sandy-coloured Rowan said: "It happened parallel to the school on the main road. I was just walking home after the school run. Most read in The Sun "The path is quite narrow, and a woman was walking her dog on the actual road itself. "Then, out of nowhere, the Girl, 10, mauled by next-door neighbour's Chow Chow before dog RETURNED to owners leaving family 'petrified' "The owner managed to pull the dog off, but when she did that, it "I was so shocked. All I had to stop the bleeding was my hands. I had to basically hold her skin together." Witnesses to the vicious attack rushed over to help rowan and Bunnie but the owner of the dog quickly left the scene. 4 Bunnie was rushed to hospital after the attack Credit: SWNS 4 She has now had several x-rays and plastic surgery Credit: SWNS Rowen said: "People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn't even put her hand out to the "The woman just disappeared. She didn't leave any details or anything." He added: "She's doing well now. She's just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how "She also has a lung condition and really bad asthma so she had to be marked down as a high-risk category for sedation. "It's really upsetting that the woman didn't stop because it makes you fear for the Bunnie was rushed to Medway Maritime Hospital and then transferred to St Thomas' in Westminster on the morning of June 18. She had several X-rays to ensure the puncture hadn't hit her bone, before undergoing Bunnie will have to go back to the hospital within a week for a check-up, and to assess whether she will need further work done. Which dog breeds are banned in the UK? THERE are specific regulations in place that prohibit certain dog breeds from being owned or bred in the UK. So what are the Which dog breeds are illegal in the UK? People tend to think of large, vicious dogs when they imagine being bitten by one. But the truth is that many types of dogs are known to bite humans, whether provoked or not. However, it's important to remember that just because a breed tends to bite humans, that doesn't mean that they all do. British law determines five breeds of dog are illegal to own, breed, sell or give away. These are an XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.
Sunday World
7 hours ago
- Sunday World
Kneecap fans charged €30 for balaclavas and ‘free Mo Chara' tshirts at Dublin gig
Fans who did buy them at official merchandising stalls may feel they got a bit of a bargain as the same items are fetching over €110 online. KNEECAP fans are not only lapping up their music but also their imaginative merchandising. Woolen Irish tricolour balaclavas, as famously sported by band member DJ Provai, were on sale at last night's gig in Dublin's Fairview Park for €30. Many fans took delight wearing them, with security signs on nearby entrances earlier anticipating the craze by signalling: 'Balaclavas may be worn but please show your face if asked by security staff'. Kneecap News in 90 Seconds - June 20th Fans who did buy them at official merchandising stalls may feel they got a bit of a bargain as the same items are fetching over €110 online. Kneecap t-shirts, primarily in black, were also generally priced at €30. The most popular one being snapped up had 'Free Mo Chara' on its front, in obvious reference to band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh's current court case in London. Tshirts on sale at the gig This was the group's first show since Liam's appearance at a magistrates court in London on Wednesday on alleged incitement of terrorism charges (for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig in the British capital several months ago), with his case being put back until August while he's released on unconditional bail. Other t-shirts read 'Kneecap: England get out of Ireland' and 'Take these yokes and we'll go for a dance'. A Kneecap hoodie was on sale for €70 and shorts for €40. There was also a separate stall selling pro-Palestinian items. Much of the marketing ideas are originated by the band's enterprising Dubliner manager Daniel Lambert. Daniel is also the C.E.O. of Bohemians FC, where he has had a phenomenal success of bringing sales of merchandising of replica jerseys from just over €100,000 a year to an estimated €2 million. A sign on display at the gig The jerseys, many of which are bought online from abroad, have already have themes such as Bob Marley (who played in Dalymount Park in 1980), 'Refugees Welcome' and 'Fontaines DC'. Environmentalist Greta Thunberg was spotted wearing a Bohs' Fontaines DC on her recent attempted boat trip to Gaza. 'I'm a free man', announced Liam as he took to the stage last night, to whoops of support from the sold-out crowd of 8500 who packed out a giant marquee. Free Mo Chara tshirts were on sale Liam also later wryly stressed that 'I'm not the first lad from west Belfast' that ended up in a British court. The band also highlighted that while their fans got to enjoy an exhilarating show they should also contemplate about Palestinians being slaughtered in Gaza and the West Bank. Balaclavas on sale online The group too paid a touching tribute to their late lightning designer Conor Biddle, offering sympathy to his family and husband Sean. Kneecap will play Glastonbury on Saturday of next weekend, where they're expected to have one of the biggest crowds of the famous festival given not just the curiosity, they're attracting for being perhaps the most high-profile anti-establishment act at the moment but also because their catchy and thought-provoking music is attracting a growing army of fans.
