A man who was jailed for conspiring to import €7 million in drugs has been ordered to hand over precious stones and more than €200,000 to the State.
John Kinsella (42), a former Irish super heavyweight boxing champion, was sentenced to 12 years in 2009 after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to import cocaine and heroin from Belgium between September 22nd and 26th, 2006.
Dutch authorities, who were investigating a co-accused, found 57kg of heroin and 21kg of cocaine worth an estimated €7 million in the luggage of a passenger trying to board the private jet Kinsella had hired for a round trip from Weston airport, Co Kildare, to Wevelgem, Belgium, on September 26th.
Yesterday, Judge Tony Hunt ordered that Kinsella, of Carnewood, Johnstown, Navan Co Meath, forfeit precious stones being held by gardaí to the State.
He also ordered 75 per cent of the value of funds and assets contained in a schedule of Kinsella’s assets be forfeited.
Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, said the amount of these assets, aside from the precious stones, amounted to €207,140.
Judge Hunt noted this included €10,930 in scheduled assets and €125,841 in funds held with Allied Irish Bank.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court also ordered that Kinsella abandon his claim for legal costs, which amounted to about €200,000.