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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Two arrested following €700,000 cocaine seizure in Dundalk
A man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s were arrested after gardaí seized 10kg of cocaine with an estimated value of €700,000 in Dundalk, Co Louth today. They are currently being held in a garda station in Louth under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. The seizure is part of an intelligence-led operation involving the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Dundalk Divisional Drug and Detective Units, and Revenue Customs Service. Investigations are ongoing. Read More Irish people 'complicit in genocide' if Occupied Territories Bill not enacted, Taoiseach told
South Wales Argus
04-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Eight men jailed for involvement in Ireland's largest drugs haul
Six of the ship's crew and two others received sentences varying in length from 13 and a half years to 20 years in prison for their involvement, totalling 129 years in prison. The authorities said the prosecutions prove Ireland is not 'a soft target' for drug smuggling. More than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth about 157 million euro (£132 million) was found aboard the MV Matthew, after the ship was stormed by Irish troops in September 2023. The drugs were seized after the Irish Army Ranger Wing boarded the vessel from helicopters in a daring operation conducted while the crew attempted to steer the ship to high seas. Eight men admitted their roles in trying to smuggle cocaine as part of a massive drug trafficking operation. Military personnel on board the MV Matthew (Niall Carson/PA) Six of the men arrested on board the MV Matthew pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply between September 24 and 26 2023. Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, who the court heard occupied quarters on the ship ordinarily reserved for senior officers, and who had a 'supervisory' role, received a sentence of 20 years. The second officer, Harold Estoesta, 31, a Filipino national, received a sentence of 18 years. The court heard that despite strong character references, Estoesta defied navy and customs instructions in a way 'unmatched by any other officer'. The captain of the vessel, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51 a married father of two, and who was not on board when the ship was intercepted, received 17 and a half years in prison. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Vlasoi, 33, received a 16-and-a-half-year sentence and Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, received 14 years. Saeid Hassani, 40, who was the third officer, received a 15-year sentence. Two other men, who were on the boat the Castlemore, which had been bought in Castletownbere to collect drugs from the main vessel, were also sentenced for attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply. Superintendent Liam Geraghty (left) and Shane Conway (right), Revenue Customs Service, listen as Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau speaks outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, received a sentence of 14 and a half years. Jamie Harbron, 31, of South Avenue, Billingham, Co Durham, in the UK, received a sentence of 13 and a half years in prison. Ms Justice Melanie Greally said that among the mitigating factors taken into account for sentencing were the men's families, health conditions, character references from family and schools, and the challenges of serving time in prison away from home, making visits unlikely because of visas and cost. The judge said that while the men 'do not belong to the upper echelons' of the organised crime gang, and did not stand to profit from the sale of the drugs, the 'vast quantity' of drugs and the potential harm of the 'highly addictive' drug were taken into account as aggravating factors. She said that apart from Harbron and Ozgen, each man possessed 'a high level of sea navigation skills', and that the transportation of large quantities of drugs at sea cannot take place without that knowledge. 'Seafarers are not cogs, but valuable components of the engine,' which allow drugs to be smuggled across international waters, she said. She added that the court viewed the defendants, to various degrees, as 'committed to the success of the venture'. The non-jury court heard how the MV Matthew was registered in Panama in August 2023 and was owned by a Dubai-based company. It left Venezuela in September, giving its destination as Gdansk in Poland. The two tonnes of cocaine are believed to have been loaded on board the MV Matthew at sea off the coast of Venezuela on September 5, while the crew were 'deliberately' distracted. Although it was a 190-metre cargo ship for transporting bulk products such as grain, the court heard that the drugs cargo on board was akin to 'a few matchboxes in a car boot'. The MV Matthew and the Castlemore were to meet three times near Ireland in late September as part of the drug-smuggling operation. A group chat was used to co-ordinate the meet-up and to receive instructions from Dubai. But because of issues with the swell, as well as the smaller vessel's struggle with slow speed and WiFi, it missed all three rendezvous and ran aground in Co Wexford. The ship's captain, Jelveh, who had expressed his unhappiness with the weather conditions, had fallen into disagreement with the contacts ashore. He was winched off the ship into a lifeboat and taken to Waterford hospital, and then taken into Garda custody on September 26. Military personnel on board the MV Matthew (Niall Carson/PA) As the MV Matthew was travelling up the Irish Sea, it drew the attention of Irish Coast Guard. The ship's crew initially said it had changed course to Belfast, and then attempted to drop anchor as it needed to carry out engine repairs over two days, which the court said was 'evidently a ruse to buy time'. In the early hours of September 26, customs told the MV Matthew to return to Cork harbour. Estoesta, who was in charge of communication, gave the 'appearance of compliance', the court said, but began travelling towards international waters. The naval ship the LE William Butler Yeats, which had been in monitoring mode, switched to a warship and issued warning shots from a rifle and then a machine gun. Estoesta radioed to the Irish naval ship and said 'we are a commercial vessel, we have families' and that they do not like problems. 'I don't like problems either. I want you to comply with our instructions and alter your course,' the commander of the Irish naval vessel said. 'Please advise are you in hot pursuit of us?' Estoesta asked, and he was told they were. The crew were advised by the Dubai group chat that they would find safe harbour in Sierra Leone and to 'be confident' because 'there is a law preventing them from boarding the ship'. They were also told by the group to 'prepare' to burn the drugs and dispose of their phones. The Army Ranger Wing arrived by helicopter and chose the fifth cargo bay to land, which was located at front of the vessel. Attempts were made by the crew to 'frustrate' the landing of the soldiers on the boat from ropes dangling from helicopters, and to 'facilitate the destruction' of items on board. The court said the rope was suspended 'some distance' from the landing area as Rangers descended, and therefore posed a risk to the Rangers, with 'no small amount of courage' needed to execute the manoeuvre. Smoke coming from a lifeboat on the MV Matthew was seen by the Rangers as they descended and because of their 'quick thinking', the fire was extinguished and the drugs were only partially burned. They swiftly gained control of the ship without incident and put it on course for Cork. Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly from An Garda Siochana, said the sentences provide a 'clear message' that Ireland is 'not a soft target' for international organised crime networks. 'To those involved in drug trafficking, the message is clear that the full force of the Irish state, supported by our international partners, is against you,' he told reporters outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. 'The reality facing you is security interdictions, special investigations, the Special Criminal Court, lengthy sentences and asset seizure. 'Transnational organised crime gangs cause misery to communities, not only in Ireland but throughout the world. 'Tackling these gangs not only makes Ireland safer but all the other countries that they operate in as well.' Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly noted the work of the joint task force, which includes An Garda Siochana, the Revenue Customs Service and the Naval Service, supported by other arms of the Irish Defence Forces including the Army Ranger Wing and Air Corps.
Western Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Western Telegraph
Eight men jailed for involvement in Ireland's largest drugs haul
Six of the ship's crew and two others received sentences varying in length from 13 and a half years to 20 years in prison for their involvement, totalling 129 years in prison. The authorities said the prosecutions prove Ireland is not 'a soft target' for drug smuggling. More than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth about 157 million euro (£132 million) was found aboard the MV Matthew, after the ship was stormed by Irish troops in September 2023. The drugs were seized after the Irish Army Ranger Wing boarded the vessel from helicopters in a daring operation conducted while the crew attempted to steer the ship to high seas. Eight men admitted their roles in trying to smuggle cocaine as part of a massive drug trafficking operation. Military personnel on board the MV Matthew (Niall Carson/PA) Six of the men arrested on board the MV Matthew pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply between September 24 and 26 2023. Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, who the court heard occupied quarters on the ship ordinarily reserved for senior officers, and who had a 'supervisory' role, received a sentence of 20 years. The second officer, Harold Estoesta, 31, a Filipino national, received a sentence of 18 years. The court heard that despite strong character references, Estoesta defied navy and customs instructions in a way 'unmatched by any other officer'. The captain of the vessel, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51 a married father of two, and who was not on board when the ship was intercepted, received 17 and a half years in prison. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Vlasoi, 33, received a 16-and-a-half-year sentence and Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, received 14 years. Saeid Hassani, 40, who was the third officer, received a 15-year sentence. Two other men, who were on the boat the Castlemore, which had been bought in Castletownbere to collect drugs from the main vessel, were also sentenced for attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply. Superintendent Liam Geraghty (left) and Shane Conway (right), Revenue Customs Service, listen as Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau speaks outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, received a sentence of 14 and a half years. Jamie Harbron, 31, of South Avenue, Billingham, Co Durham, in the UK, received a sentence of 13 and a half years in prison. Ms Justice Melanie Greally said that among the mitigating factors taken into account for sentencing were the men's families, health conditions, character references from family and schools, and the challenges of serving time in prison away from home, making visits unlikely because of visas and cost. The judge said that while the men 'do not belong to the upper echelons' of the organised crime gang, and did not stand to profit from the sale of the drugs, the 'vast quantity' of drugs and the potential harm of the 'highly addictive' drug were taken into account as aggravating factors. She said that apart from Harbron and Ozgen, each man possessed 'a high level of sea navigation skills', and that the transportation of large quantities of drugs at sea cannot take place without that knowledge. 'Seafarers are not cogs, but valuable components of the engine,' which allow drugs to be smuggled across international waters, she said. She added that the court viewed the defendants, to various degrees, as 'committed to the success of the venture'. The non-jury court heard how the MV Matthew was registered in Panama in August 2023 and was owned by a Dubai-based company. It left Venezuela in September, giving its destination as Gdansk in Poland. The two tonnes of cocaine are believed to have been loaded on board the MV Matthew at sea off the coast of Venezuela on September 5, while the crew were 'deliberately' distracted. Although it was a 190-metre cargo ship for transporting bulk products such as grain, the court heard that the drugs cargo on board was akin to 'a few matchboxes in a car boot'. The MV Matthew and the Castlemore were to meet three times near Ireland in late September as part of the drug-smuggling operation. A group chat was used to co-ordinate the meet-up and to receive instructions from Dubai. But because of issues with the swell, as well as the smaller vessel's struggle with slow speed and WiFi, it missed all three rendezvous and ran aground in Co Wexford. The ship's captain, Jelveh, who had expressed his unhappiness with the weather conditions, had fallen into disagreement with the contacts ashore. He was winched off the ship into a lifeboat and taken to Waterford hospital, and then taken into Garda custody on September 26. Military personnel on board the MV Matthew (Niall Carson/PA) As the MV Matthew was travelling up the Irish Sea, it drew the attention of Irish Coast Guard. The ship's crew initially said it had changed course to Belfast, and then attempted to drop anchor as it needed to carry out engine repairs over two days, which the court said was 'evidently a ruse to buy time'. In the early hours of September 26, customs told the MV Matthew to return to Cork harbour. Estoesta, who was in charge of communication, gave the 'appearance of compliance', the court said, but began travelling towards international waters. The naval ship the LE William Butler Yeats, which had been in monitoring mode, switched to a warship and issued warning shots from a rifle and then a machine gun. Estoesta radioed to the Irish naval ship and said 'we are a commercial vessel, we have families' and that they do not like problems. 'I don't like problems either. I want you to comply with our instructions and alter your course,' the commander of the Irish naval vessel said. 'Please advise are you in hot pursuit of us?' Estoesta asked, and he was told they were. The crew were advised by the Dubai group chat that they would find safe harbour in Sierra Leone and to 'be confident' because 'there is a law preventing them from boarding the ship'. They were also told by the group to 'prepare' to burn the drugs and dispose of their phones. The Army Ranger Wing arrived by helicopter and chose the fifth cargo bay to land, which was located at front of the vessel. Attempts were made by the crew to 'frustrate' the landing of the soldiers on the boat from ropes dangling from helicopters, and to 'facilitate the destruction' of items on board. The court said the rope was suspended 'some distance' from the landing area as Rangers descended, and therefore posed a risk to the Rangers, with 'no small amount of courage' needed to execute the manoeuvre. Smoke coming from a lifeboat on the MV Matthew was seen by the Rangers as they descended and because of their 'quick thinking', the fire was extinguished and the drugs were only partially burned. They swiftly gained control of the ship without incident and put it on course for Cork. Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly from An Garda Siochana, said the sentences provide a 'clear message' that Ireland is 'not a soft target' for international organised crime networks. 'To those involved in drug trafficking, the message is clear that the full force of the Irish state, supported by our international partners, is against you,' he told reporters outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. 'The reality facing you is security interdictions, special investigations, the Special Criminal Court, lengthy sentences and asset seizure. 'Transnational organised crime gangs cause misery to communities, not only in Ireland but throughout the world. 'Tackling these gangs not only makes Ireland safer but all the other countries that they operate in as well.' Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly noted the work of the joint task force, which includes An Garda Siochana, the Revenue Customs Service and the Naval Service, supported by other arms of the Irish Defence Forces including the Army Ranger Wing and Air Corps.
Glasgow Times
04-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Eight men jailed for involvement in Ireland's largest drugs haul
Six of the ship's crew and two others received sentences varying in length from 13 and a half years to 20 years in prison for their involvement, totalling 129 years in prison. The authorities said the prosecutions prove Ireland is not 'a soft target' for drug smuggling. More than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth about 157 million euro (£132 million) was found aboard the MV Matthew, after the ship was stormed by Irish troops in September 2023. The drugs were seized after the Irish Army Ranger Wing boarded the vessel from helicopters in a daring operation conducted while the crew attempted to steer the ship to high seas. Eight men admitted their roles in trying to smuggle cocaine as part of a massive drug trafficking operation. Military personnel on board the MV Matthew (Niall Carson/PA) Six of the men arrested on board the MV Matthew pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply between September 24 and 26 2023. Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, who the court heard occupied quarters on the ship ordinarily reserved for senior officers, and who had a 'supervisory' role, received a sentence of 20 years. The second officer, Harold Estoesta, 31, a Filipino national, received a sentence of 18 years. The court heard that despite strong character references, Estoesta defied navy and customs instructions in a way 'unmatched by any other officer'. The captain of the vessel, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51 a married father of two, and who was not on board when the ship was intercepted, received 17 and a half years in prison. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Vlasoi, 33, received a 16-and-a-half-year sentence and Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, received 14 years. Saeid Hassani, 40, who was the third officer, received a 15-year sentence. Two other men, who were on the boat the Castlemore, which had been bought in Castletownbere to collect drugs from the main vessel, were also sentenced for attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply. Superintendent Liam Geraghty (left) and Shane Conway (right), Revenue Customs Service, listen as Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau speaks outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, received a sentence of 14 and a half years. Jamie Harbron, 31, of South Avenue, Billingham, Co Durham, in the UK, received a sentence of 13 and a half years in prison. Ms Justice Melanie Greally said that among the mitigating factors taken into account for sentencing were the men's families, health conditions, character references from family and schools, and the challenges of serving time in prison away from home, making visits unlikely because of visas and cost. The judge said that while the men 'do not belong to the upper echelons' of the organised crime gang, and did not stand to profit from the sale of the drugs, the 'vast quantity' of drugs and the potential harm of the 'highly addictive' drug were taken into account as aggravating factors. She said that apart from Harbron and Ozgen, each man possessed 'a high level of sea navigation skills', and that the transportation of large quantities of drugs at sea cannot take place without that knowledge. 'Seafarers are not cogs, but valuable components of the engine,' which allow drugs to be smuggled across international waters, she said. She added that the court viewed the defendants, to various degrees, as 'committed to the success of the venture'. The non-jury court heard how the MV Matthew was registered in Panama in August 2023 and was owned by a Dubai-based company. It left Venezuela in September, giving its destination as Gdansk in Poland. The two tonnes of cocaine are believed to have been loaded on board the MV Matthew at sea off the coast of Venezuela on September 5, while the crew were 'deliberately' distracted. Although it was a 190-metre cargo ship for transporting bulk products such as grain, the court heard that the drugs cargo on board was akin to 'a few matchboxes in a car boot'. The MV Matthew and the Castlemore were to meet three times near Ireland in late September as part of the drug-smuggling operation. A group chat was used to co-ordinate the meet-up and to receive instructions from Dubai. But because of issues with the swell, as well as the smaller vessel's struggle with slow speed and WiFi, it missed all three rendezvous and ran aground in Co Wexford. The ship's captain, Jelveh, who had expressed his unhappiness with the weather conditions, had fallen into disagreement with the contacts ashore. He was winched off the ship into a lifeboat and taken to Waterford hospital, and then taken into Garda custody on September 26. Military personnel on board the MV Matthew (Niall Carson/PA) As the MV Matthew was travelling up the Irish Sea, it drew the attention of Irish Coast Guard. The ship's crew initially said it had changed course to Belfast, and then attempted to drop anchor as it needed to carry out engine repairs over two days, which the court said was 'evidently a ruse to buy time'. In the early hours of September 26, customs told the MV Matthew to return to Cork harbour. Estoesta, who was in charge of communication, gave the 'appearance of compliance', the court said, but began travelling towards international waters. The naval ship the LE William Butler Yeats, which had been in monitoring mode, switched to a warship and issued warning shots from a rifle and then a machine gun. Estoesta radioed to the Irish naval ship and said 'we are a commercial vessel, we have families' and that they do not like problems. 'I don't like problems either. I want you to comply with our instructions and alter your course,' the commander of the Irish naval vessel said. 'Please advise are you in hot pursuit of us?' Estoesta asked, and he was told they were. The crew were advised by the Dubai group chat that they would find safe harbour in Sierra Leone and to 'be confident' because 'there is a law preventing them from boarding the ship'. They were also told by the group to 'prepare' to burn the drugs and dispose of their phones. The Army Ranger Wing arrived by helicopter and chose the fifth cargo bay to land, which was located at front of the vessel. Attempts were made by the crew to 'frustrate' the landing of the soldiers on the boat from ropes dangling from helicopters, and to 'facilitate the destruction' of items on board. The court said the rope was suspended 'some distance' from the landing area as Rangers descended, and therefore posed a risk to the Rangers, with 'no small amount of courage' needed to execute the manoeuvre. Smoke coming from a lifeboat on the MV Matthew was seen by the Rangers as they descended and because of their 'quick thinking', the fire was extinguished and the drugs were only partially burned. They swiftly gained control of the ship without incident and put it on course for Cork. Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly from An Garda Siochana, said the sentences provide a 'clear message' that Ireland is 'not a soft target' for international organised crime networks. 'To those involved in drug trafficking, the message is clear that the full force of the Irish state, supported by our international partners, is against you,' he told reporters outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. 'The reality facing you is security interdictions, special investigations, the Special Criminal Court, lengthy sentences and asset seizure. 'Transnational organised crime gangs cause misery to communities, not only in Ireland but throughout the world. 'Tackling these gangs not only makes Ireland safer but all the other countries that they operate in as well.' Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly noted the work of the joint task force, which includes An Garda Siochana, the Revenue Customs Service and the Naval Service, supported by other arms of the Irish Defence Forces including the Army Ranger Wing and Air Corps.
Belfast Telegraph
03-06-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Captain of MV Matthew carrying 2.2 tonnes of cocaine ‘feared for his life'
A retired marine engineer who was captain of the MV Matthew while it was carrying more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine claimed that he feared for his life and his family if he did not follow instructions, a court has heard. Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, said there was an element of fear on board the vessel, and admitted he was aware that the consignment on the ship was not 'spare parts'. He said that he was captain in name but he had to follow orders like everyone else. The non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin was told on Tuesday that he was in fear of being killed and that his family, who were in Dubai, would also be killed. The court was also told that a number of the crew were hired by a transnational organised crime group for the operation. Jelveh is one of seven men charged with offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than 157 million euros (£132 million), which was on board the ship the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier. Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 32; Iranians Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, 39; Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, all pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Mathew between 24 and 26 September 2023. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023. Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, also pleaded guilty that on a date between September 21 and September 25, 2023, both dates inclusive, he attempted to have cocaine in his possession for the purpose of sale or supply, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Detective Superintendent Keith Halley told the court in Dublin that messages sent to crew members of the MV Matthew told them to consider moving the bags containing drugs on to a lifeboat and then release it into the sea as Irish authorities got closer to the vessel. The court heard that Ozgen, who was described in court by his barrister Brendan Grehan as having a lack of sea experience, was to go into the lifeboat with 22 tonnes of drugs in 'one of the worst storms'. Six men who were arrested on board ignored instructions from the LE William Butler Yeats naval vessel a number of times. Detective Halley, who was a Revenue Customs liaison for Irish police, gave evidence that the authorities received information about a fishing trawler being used to import drugs, which led to the formation of a joint task force between gardai, the Revenue Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service. Jelveh, a father of two, claimed he felt violated by people in the 'head office' who were not present on the vessel, and that there was a threat over him that was not there in relation to his co-accused. Jelveh qualified as a maritime engineer in 1997 and worked as a marine engineer until 2008 and moved through the ranks to became first deck officer. He became captain in 2019. He had since retired and was working as a football coach. Prosecution barrister John Berry SC told the court that the crew had attempted to set the drugs on fire as they attempted to flee Irish authorities and head into the high seas. Messages discovered in a WhatsApp group, called The Deck Officers, revealed how the crew was instructed to be ready to burn the cargo and head towards Sierra Leone if a helicopter tried to intercept the ship. The crew were told to 'make sure everything is burnt' and to use paint thinner to set the cargo alight. They were also ordered by people not on board the vessel not to communicate with Irish authorities. The crew had been ordered by authorities to steer the vessel towards the Irish coast and dock at Cork. The court heard that they were willing to comply with the instructions, however, they were going full steam ahead to the high seas and were planning on travelling to Sierra Leone. The court was told that the crew had been making efforts to deter the arrival of the Army Ranger Wing to allow for the removal of the drugs. Footage and photographs shown to the court revealed there was smoke coming from the lifeboat after an attempt was made to set the drugs alight. Cans of paint, used to set it on fire, were also found on the life raft. Detective Halley also told the court today that the people instructing the crew had 'immense capabilities, unlimited resources and a global reach'. He said it became apparent through the message groups that those who were controlling the vessel and sending instructions on what to do were based in Dubai. They had sent messages instructing the crew to keep going, including reassuring messages like 'just relax and this will all be over soon'. They also gave the wrong information that Irish authorities could not board the vessel. The sentence hearing is taking place before Ms Justice Melanie Grealy Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone. The sentencing hearing continues on Wednesday.
