A well-known Kerry businessman has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the biggest crystal meth seizure in the history of the State. Nathan McDonnell, former chief executive of Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd in Tralee, pleaded guilty to drug importation into the Port of Cork and to assisting or facilitating a criminal gang to import methamphetamine — more commonly known as crystal meth.

Some €33m worth of crystal meth (546kg) was found concealed in an industrial machine bound for export to Australia on February 15. Gardaí and Revenue officials found the drugs during a search of a shipping container at the Port of Cork in Ringaskiddy.

At follow-up searches in Tralee, Mr McDonnell and his co-accused, James Leen, were arrested and later charged in connection with the historic seizure of methamphetamine. Both men appeared before the three-judge, no jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday.

The Drug Seizure

A court previously heard how a purpose-built electromagnetic separator machine had concealed more than half a tonne of crystal meth in a highly sophisticated manner. This machine had been shipped from Mexico and had been stored in Ballyseedy Garden Centre in Tralee since October, a court previously heard.

Mr McDonnell had previously admitted to gardaí that he had stored the machine at Ballyseedy Garden Centre and said that he was paid €150,000 to do so. But he had denied any knowledge of the drugs through his solicitor, Padraig O'Connell, before Monday's guilty plea.

The Charges

Mr McDonnell, 44, of Ballyroe, Tralee, had been charged with participating in activities to facilitate the importation, sale and supply of drugs by a criminal organisation. He was also charged with importation of the drug methylamphetamine, known as crystal meth, at Cork Port on October 16, 2023.

He was charged with possession and possession of the drug for sale or supply at Ballyseedy Garden Centre, Tralee, between October 27 and February 12, 2024. These two drug possession charges were withdrawn as part of the plea bargain.

The Sentencing

Mr McDonnell was further remanded in custody by Justice Tony Hunt until his sentencing hearing, now set for December 17. Wearing a white shirt and dark tie, hair gelled neatly back from his face, McDonnell pleaded guilty to the two charges.

Co-accused

His co-accused Mr Leen, 41, of Pilgrim Hill, Kilmorna, Listowel, Co Kerry, also appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday. Mr Leen also faces multiple charges in relation to the seizure. He is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation.

He is also charged with drug importation at Cork Port, Ringaskiddy, on October 16, 2023, of methylamphetamine worth €13,000 or more; of drug possession and of drug possession for sale or supply of methylamphetamine at Ballyseedy Garden Centre between October 27, 2023, and February 12, 2024.

Mr Leen was remanded in custody until his trial date by Justice Tony Hunt, now set for October 6, 2025. But he will next be produced in court on November 11 for an application to be made for free legal aid. Mr Leen appeared in court wearing a navy blazer and white shirt.

The Aftermath

Meanwhile, the High Court is to hear a petition to wind up Mr McDonnell’s former family business, Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd, next month. The guilty plea and subsequent sentencing of Nathan McDonnell highlight the significant impact that drug trafficking has on individuals and businesses, even those seemingly unconnected to the criminal world. The case serves as a reminder of the reach of organized crime and the devastating consequences of its activities, both for those directly involved and for the broader community. This case, with its connections to an international smuggling ring and the sheer scale of the drug seizure, will likely have lasting ramifications for drug enforcement efforts in Ireland.