A FORMER Meath county hurler has been sentenced to five years for trying to transport €55,000 worth of cannabis from Dublin to Kerry by train.
John Nelson (40), Parnell Park, Navan, was a promising young hurler who was one of the first in the country to achieve a senior medal at 16 years of age, the court heard. However his life was “turned around” by drugs and he has been an addict for the last 20 years.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of more than 8kg of cannabis resin at Heuston railway station on December 6th, 2008.
Judge Tony Hunt yesterday suspended the final 18 months of the term, saying that Nelson came from a “very respectable family and his life has taken an unfortunate turn”.
Det Garda Ronan McMahon told Pieter Le Vert, prosecuting, he received confidential information that Nelson would be transporting the drugs by train. He saw him in the queue for the train to Cork carrying a heavy rucksack and stopped him.
Nelson immediately told them he had hash in his bag and “an ounce of brown” in his trousers. A search revealed 8kg of cannabis resin in the rucksack and a further ounce hidden in his trousers.
He said he had come up to Dublin from Kerry where he had been staying with his fiancée. He was given the drugs and was to take a train back to Kerry where someone would meet him and pay him.
He was to receive an ounce of cannabis and “€800 or €900”. He said he was making the delivery to get money for Christmas.
Det McMahon said that Nelson had 15 previous convictions including ones for assault and drug dealing.