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Crack cocaine addicted farmer jailed over €8.2m pandemic drugs haul in Co Kildare

Eric Lawler was given five years behind bars for his role in the massive cocaine and cannabis operation busted by gardaí during the pandemic lockdown in 2021.

Crack cocaine addicted farmer jailed over €8.2m pandemic drugs haul in Co Kildare –

Eric Lawler being taken from Naas Circuit Court where was sentenced to five years in prison for his part in a €8.2 million drugs seizure

THIS is the crack-cocaine addicted farmer who ran a €8.2 million drugs warehouse set up by a violent organised crime gang.

Eric Lawler was given five years behind bars for his role in the massive cocaine and cannabis operation busted by gardaí during the pandemic lockdown in 2021.

The Kildare man had previously pleaded guilty to his part in the criminal enterprise in which the drugs were found on his property.

He had told gardaí he was in fear of the gang who had refused to let him pay off his drug debts.

Judge Martina Baxter sentenced Lawler to eight years, with three suspended, at Naas Circuit Court this week.

Lawler owned the property Cypress House at Baybush, Straffan where 314 kilos of cannabis valued at €6.2 million along with 9.2 kilos of cocaine in the garage.

Nine kilos of cocaine were also found in a hidden compartment in a specially modified van parked by his house.

Another man, Eugene Mulligan from Sligo was caught with €1.2 million worth of cannabis after leaving the property.

Mulligan was recently sentenced at Naas Circuit Court to six years in prison had driven from Sligo to collect drugs from the Co Kildare address.

Nine kilos of cocaine were also found in a hidden compartment in a specially modified van parked by his house.

Another man, Eugene Mulligan from Sligo was caught with €1.2 million worth of cannabis after leaving the property.

Mulligan was recently sentenced at Naas Circuit Court to six years in prison had driven from Sligo to collect drugs from the Co Kildare address.

Lawler had told the officer after his arrest he had a €1,400 a week crack cocaine habit at the time and owed money.

Lawler’s defence counsel told the court that when he tried to pay his debt to his drug dealers “they were not interested” and instead saw an opportunity to use him and his property.

He had rented a room out to someone at the time for €100 during the Covid lockdown who had access to drugs.

It was previously heard that Lawler had been living a “risk-prone” lifestyle but was now drug free after taking steps to address his addictions.

He believed doing what he did was the only way to keep his family safe. His parents believe gardaí saved his life by taking him out of this environment, it was added.