This article is from page 13 of the 2006-09-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
TWO people have appeared in court in connection with separate seizures of cigarettes by customs officers at Shannon Airport last year.
Sviatlana Usovich (32), of 149 St Brigid’s Grove, Killester, Dublin 5 and who is originally from Belarus, was convicted of evasion of a duty of excise on 14,000 cigarettes, with intent to defraud the State of such duty, on July 18, 2005. The value of the cigarettes was more than €4,000.
Paul Francis Yore (43), of Commons, Dromiskin, Dundalk, Co Louth, was convicted of evasion of a duty of excise, on 20,400 cigarettes, on November 3, 2005. The cigarettes were valued at over €6,000.
State Solicitor for Clare, Martin Linnane, told Shannon District Court last Thursday that Usovich was stopped coming into Shannon from Belarus. She was carrying 14,000 cigarettes and said they were for her own use. Her solicitor said she had come to Ireland six years ago and had since been deserted by her husband.
“She evaded the opportunity on her return. It was a stupid act. She put herself on the line for her children. All her cigarettes were taken by Customs. She has made a net loss,” said the solicitor.
Mr Linnane said Yore arrived into Shannon with 20,400 cigarettes and said he was “only trying to make a few bob”.
His solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said her client had arrived in from Lanzarote and has a problem with alcohol. “He was staggering so much he could hardly carry his suitcase. The decision wasn’t made in a sobering, reasonable moment,” said the solicitor.
Judge Joseph Mangan imposed fines of €1,900 on both accused, mitigated to €950.