3 days ago
OAP (80) who ‘flooded' England with €15m of cocaine for Byrne crime gang jailed
Great-grandfather Malcolm Hoyland was handed down the seven-year sentence after he was caught up in the massive drug operation when his son became ill and fell into debt
The widower made 17 cocaine drops for the notorious Irish branch of the Kinahan Cartel
An 80-year-old pensioner who "flooded" England with €15m (£13m) of cocaine for the Byrne Organised Crime Gang has been jailed in the UK.
Great-grandfather Malcolm Hoyland was handed down the seven-year sentence after he was caught up in the massive drug operation when his son became ill and fell into debt.
The widower was arrested in a police bust after he made 17 cocaine drops for the notorious Irish branch of the Kinahan Cartel, which was based in Crumlin in Dublin.
Led by Liam Byrne, the Byrnes operated on behalf of the cartel, one of the world's most powerful organised criminal organisations.
Ex-soldier Hoyland and his 49-year-old son Richard's point of contact in the Byrne gang was a an underworld figure named for the 'Mr Miyagi' character in the Karate Kid movies.
Malcolm Hoyland.
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Hoyland snr travelled across the UK from the £200,000 semi he rented in Prestwich, to Plymouth, London and North Yorks as a 'trusted' drug courier.
When police arrived at the property in January of last year they discovered cocaine with a street value of £8.3m, although detectives believe up to £13m was handled by Hoyland and his son before being trafficked across Britain on behalf of the Byrnes.
It has been reported that Hoyland who is partially deaf and has who has arthritis and other serious health conditions, will now die behind bars having been jailed for a total of seven years and three months by Manchester Crown Court.
His son from Todmorden, West Yorkshire, also admitted conspiracy and was jailed for 10 years. Both will have Proceeds of Crime hearings in January.
According to MailOnline, police began a surveillance operation on the Hoylands when they were tipped off the Hoylands were dealing with the Byrnes.
It was later discovered that Hoyland Jnr had first come into contact with the Byrnes after he developed the incurable neurodegenerative illness Huntington's Disease.
After his business went into liquidation, Hoyland snr who had worked as a roofer and a farmer after leaving the army started helping out his son with cocaine drops when the family home got into mortgage arrears.
Hoyland's 49-year-old son Richard
Prosecutor Alex Langhorn told the court: 'They were involved in the source and supply of at least 137kg of cocaine on behalf of someone whose name was stored in their phones as 'Mr Miyagi'.
'There were 17 trips with destinations as far flung as Ripon, North Yorks, Leicester, Accrington, Batley, Haydock, Sunderland, Sheffield, Plymouth, Burnley and the City of London.
'Mr Miyagi directed what was to be done with the packages but it would appear Richard was the primary point of contact and he passed things onto his father who was a willing participant in the conspiracy.'
Police who raided Hoyland snr's address found three bags containing 70g of cocaine in the living room.
A further 13kg of cocaine was found a box in a wardrobe in a bedroom.
Police also recovered two empty Sports Direct sports holdalls plus £2,000 in cash locked away in a safe.
Initially Hoyland snr claimed to have no knowledge of the drugs but later admitted he was aware packages containing drugs were stored in the property.
'I did not arrange for the drugs to be brought to the property,' he said. 'I was directed by my son and occasionally dealt with some packages
Police found holdalls full of cocaine
''I also accept on a very few occasions I made deliveries on my own but I acted at all times under the direction of my son. I felt I could not report the drugs to the police as I was afraid about what others might do to my family.'
After Hoyland Jnr was stopped as he was driving his Ford Transit in Littleborough, his ex-partner's home was searched and officers recovered two iPhones and £5,040 in cash from a sock drawer in the master bedroom.
He later said he got involved in the racket after being forced to give up his job due to his illness and claimed he was trying to provide for his family.
Judge Peter Horgan said: 'It is a sad state of affairs when I have to sentence a man of 80 for such serious crime.
'I accept you introduced to this conspiracy by your son - however you were acting in the expectation of significant financial reward and you made your own decisions to play an active role.
The widower made 17 cocaine drops for the notorious Irish branch of the Kinahan Cartel
'Others have expressed how dumbfounded at your involvement in this matter.'
Steven Gerrard's influencer daughter Lilly-Eva is currently dating Lee Byrne, the son of jailed crime boss Liam Byrne, who works for the Kinahan Cartel.
His gangster brother David Byrne (33) was gunned down in the Regency Hotel hit in 2016, while his cousin is convicted Kinahan murderer 'Fat Freddie' Thompson.
There is no suggestion that Gerrard or Lilly-Ella and Lee who announced the birth of their first child together earlier this year have any involvement in crime.
