The sentencing of a truck driver who was offered £6,000 by a criminal gang to bring £150,000 of stolen computer software to England has been further adjourned to next week by Judge Frank O'Donnell in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John Kelly (32), of St Mark's Avenue, Clondalkin, Co Dublin, has been in custody awaiting sentence since last October, when he pleaded guilty at Dublin Central Criminal Court to handling the stolen property.
Det Garda John Moloney told prosecuting counsel Ms Melanie Greally that the software, on CDROMs, was in a container which had been at Dublin Port. Kelly was apprehended with the software in another container as he was about to board a ferry. He made a statement indicating that he had been approached by someone who offered him the money to drive the second container.
Det Gda Moloney agreed with Mr Michael O'Higgins, defending, that Kelly was in "genuine fear" for his safety concerning the identities of those who organised the theft. Gardai were, however, aware of their identities. Kelly, who had financial problems when approached to drive the container, was aware there was something "wrong" with the load.
Mr O'Higgins said at the original hearing last October that his client had been apprehended initially by the Harbour Police and though there could have been a legal issue regarding this he had insisted on pleading guilty.
