A woman who smuggled 1.4 million cigarettes valued at almost €400,000 into Ireland has been been given a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Olga Karlova (32), formerly of Clarinda Park West, Dún Laoghaire, who has been in custody for more than a year, had the final 12 months of her 30-month sentence suspended by Judge Matthews.
She pleaded guilty to smuggling the cigarettes into Dublin Port on November 4th, 2002, and also admitted smuggling two smaller quantities of cigarettes valued almost €11,000 into Dublin Airport on dates in February and September 2002.
Judge Matthews noted a report that Karlova, a Russian, had distinguished herself in custody where she was a model prisoner who earned the respect of staff and all others in that community.
He bound her over to keep the peace for the next 12 months and to report to the gardaí on the final Saturday of every month in the coming year. She is also to inform gardaí of any change of address from that given to the court where she is to reside.
Company boss to admit tax offences
The managing director of a haulage firm charged with making false tax returns is to plead guilty, a court heard yesterday.
Mr Joe Flood, managing director of Newpark Holdings Ltd, the Ward, Co Dublin, has been summonsed for making incorrect tax returns and for making claims for VAT repayments he knew to be incorrect in 2001. His company faces similar summonses.
At Dublin District Court, Judge William Early adjourned the case to November 18th.
Christian Brother remanded
A Christian Brother charged with the indecent assault of two young boys at St Joseph's Industrial School in Galway city was remanded on continuing bail at Galway District Court this week.
The accused, who now lives in the north-east of the country, has been too ill to travel to Galway for court appearances. The man, who may not be named for legal reasons, is charged with nine counts of indecently assaulting two boys on various dates between January 1st, 1972 and December 31st, 1979, at St Joseph's School, Salthill, Galway. A court hearing last December heard that the accused had undergone an unsuccessful triple bypass operation and was now in congestive heart failure.
A medical report verifying he was unfit to travel, was handed into the court this week. He was remanded on continuing bail to appear before the District Court on January 12th next.
IRA membership denied
The former head of the Special Branch told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that he believed a Dublin man arrested at a Co Meath hotel was a member of an illegal organisation.
Detective Chief Supt Basil Walsh, who is now retired, said that he believed Mr Declan Carroll was a member of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 29th, 2001.
Mr Carroll (27), of Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, has denied the membership charge.