Court told exboxer lived off heroin profits

Sister of drugs 'Mr Big' gets six year sentence

AN OFFALY woman whose brother was named in court as a drugs "Mr Big" has
been jailed for six years for importing heroin worth almost £700,000 at
Dublin Ferryport last February.

Eithne Coyne Senior (47), originally from Tullamore, and with an address at
Hogan Way, Geldston Road, Hackney, London, pleaded guilty to the crime at
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Cyril Kelly was told that statements made by Coyne and others
indicated the drugs run was organised by her younger brother Frank
Connolly, from Tullamore, who has a pub and nightclub as well as a usedcar
business in London.

Coyne's daughter, Eithne Coyne Junior (24), also from Hackney, and an
Englishman, John Walmsley (26), with an address at Smalley Close, London,
were given suspended sentences.

All three admitted importing the heroin at Alexandra Quay, Dublin, on
February 5 last. Eithne Coyne Jnr was given four years suspended and
Walmsley three years suspended. Walmsley was in custody since his arrest.

The court heard that Connolly now wants nothing to do with his sister or
her daughter.

ARRESTED IN HOUSE

Detective Sergeant John O'Driscoll told Judge Kelly they were arrested at a
house at Gracepark Heights, Drumcondra, on February 6 last, during a Garda
raid. Another Tullamoreborn person, Fergus Duffy, was jailed for 10 years
on June 4 last in connection with the same consignment of heroin.

Det Sgt O'Driscoll said Duffy has been identified by gardai as one of the
main distributors of heroin in Dublin for several months. He was paid £500
a week by Connolly to distribute the heroin.

Duffy was discovered with the heroin imported by the Coynes and Walmsley
when they raided an apartment near Dublin Zoo.

Coyne claimed she was to be paid £4,000 for importing this cache of heroin