A "Walter Mitty-type" character, who played an "important logistical role" in smuggling €8.4m worth of cocaine to Ireland via an "open corridor" aerodrome in the midlands, has been jailed for 11 years.
The accused, who told gardai he was a company director with business interests in Uganda, pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs worth €13,000 or more for sale or supply at Lough Owel, Irishtown, Co. Westmeath, on the date of his arrest. Gilchrist also admitted unlawfully importing the cocaine in the light aircraft
The judge noted the considerable degree of planning and Gilchrist's "active and important logistical role" and held the accused did it for financial gain.Judge Johnson set a headline of 16 years and six months but held the terms could be reduced due to the guilty plea, information heard in mitigation, and his lack of previous convictions.
Gilchrist was driving a 2009 registered Alfa Romeo car and was followed by the gardai before they stopped him near Lough Owel. He claimed that he was told, "And if I didn't do it, I would have another problem." He maintained that he told them, "I'm going to the guards," but one of them threatened his daughter.
The flight took three and a half hours, and there were no customs officers at the Dieppe aerodrome, where the plane only spent a short time. Gilchrist claimed he was helping the plane's pilot build up flying hours, and the court heard there had been six known flights. Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, that his client's guilty plea was valuable.