Published: Thursday, 18th February, 2010 5:00pm

Sold laundered diesel

Judge Sean MacBride.

A Dundalk man who was convicted of selling laundered diesel at a filling station in Cootehill was handed a six-month suspended sentence when he pleaded guilty to the offence at Ballyconnell District Court. Gary Mullen (35), 118 Athleathan, Racecourse Road, Dundalk, was also fined €3,000 and forced to close for 14 days. He was summoned that on November 5, 2008, at Rockcrest Service Station Limited, Station Road, Cootehill, he kept 7,000 litres of diesel for which tax had not been paid.

The defendant was fined a further €5,000 mitigated to €2,500 for trading without a licence on November 19.

Rory Hayden, state solicitor, said Revenue officers attended the filling station and took a sample of oil. It contained a red marking, which indicated it was Northern Ireland agricultural diesel and no duty had been paid on it.

On November 19 the officers returned to the station and on this occasion the defendant was operating without a licence. The defendant had a previous conviction in November 2007 at the same venue and was fined €2,000 with €1,500 costs.

Ken Connolly BL, instructed by Tierney solicitors, said his client's premises was permanently closed. He ran the business with his wife but ran into trouble. National Irish Bank now possesses the station. In evidence, the defendant apologised.

Judge Sean MacBride said if the defendant had contested the matter he would have sent him away for twelve months. "The people producing this illegal fuel are gangsters and are heavily involved." They were funding an illegal operation, he added.

Giving credit for the guilty plea, the judge ruled as stated.