Man receives five and a half years prison sentence for drugs and money laundering offences

A man has been jailed for five and a half years at Derry Crown Court for a series of drug and money laundering charges.

Rory Patrick James Trainor (48) with an address at Dunbrae in Crossmaglen, Newry admitted a total of 37 charges involving money laundering of more than £600,000 and various drug importation charges. 

Trainer was described in court as playing a 'leading role' in the organised drug operation and it was said he did so for 'financial gain'.

Passing sentence Judge Neil Rafferty KC said this case originated from the Encrochat phone messages that were breached by police in France and Belguim.

He said that this involved  'a large number of users involved in serious and organised crime.'

The judge said that often there were messages or images in the messages that acted as a 'digital fingerprint' which was the case here with Trainor.

He added that the defendant had two code names on the chat, 'barnbrack and Khan Ghenghis'.

The offending took place over a six week period in March and April 2020 and the judge said they could be divided into two general groups of criminal property offences and drug importation offences of mostly class C but one charge involving cocaine which he said he would treat as 'a one off'.

Judge Rafferty said that Trainor played a leading role in the organised crime and the financial aspect was as a facilitator.

Trainor had a co-accused who Judge Rafferty said played 'a much more sinister role'.

But he added that Trainor was willingly 'involved in the  financing of organised crime'.

He said the defendant deserved credit for his plea and some account had to be taken of his behaviour while in prison where he enjoyed 'enhanced status'.

Judge Rafferty imposed four years on the drug related offences and 18 months consecutive on the money laundering charges making a total of five and a half years with half in custody and half on licence.