Ex-footballer from Derry avoids jail after large stash of fake cigarettes and jerseys found

A former professional footballer who was caught with a large stash of fake goods, including soccer jerseys and almost €50,000 worth of tobacco and cigarettes, has avoided going to jail.

Kevin Doherty was nabbed with the gear, worth tens of thousands of euro, when Gardai raided his home in Donegal.

Doherty, 46, with an address at Fern Park, Derry, pleaded guilty to the offences at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

Cops swooped on Doherty’s home at Aileach Valley, Elaghbeg, Burnfoot on June 11, 2019 and found the stash of goods in a shed located to the rear of the house.

Detective Garda Joe English outlined details of the raid in court.

Doherty was charged with having for sale or delivery 33,600 Excellence cigarettes, 12,200 Lambert & Butler Original Silver cigarettes, 400 Sterling Super King cigarettes and 2,000 Mayfair cigarettes, as well as other items including 10000mg Premium Blend, 105 40g packages of of Domingo tobacco, 16 50g pouches of Golden Virginia tobacco, 230 50g pouches of Flandria Golden tobacco, 100 50g packets of Flandria Golden tobacco.

A customs officer confirmed that the haul did not bear the appropriate Irish tax stamp.

The total value of the cigarettes was €37,833.30 and the tobacco was to the value of €12,186.78.

Doherty was found in possession in the course of a business items of clothing bearing the marks of brands such as Adidas, New Balance, Nike, North Face, Vans, Lacoste, Fred Perry, Ralph Lauren, Stone Island and Gym King.

The stash included 29 Manchester United jerseys, 19 Liverpool jerseys, 20 Celtic jerseys and 19 Barcelona jerseys as well as almost 250 pairs of Nike and Vans trainers and a quantity of 645 DVDs and CDs.

Doherty pleaded guilty to offences contrary to to the Finance Act, 2005 and the Trade Marks Act, 1996.

Initially, Doherty told Gardai that he was storing the products for someone else and that he did not have a key for the shed.

Father-of-two Doherty, who has seven previous convictions for similar offences in Northern Ireland, later admitted that he received cigarettes and tobacco in return for holding the merchandise. He was in debt to the owner, the court heard, due to a gambling problem.

Derry woman charged with stealing 'treasure trove' of stolen goods from Foyleside

She has been released on bail on condition she does not enter Derry or any shopping centre or large supermarket

Barrister for Doherty, Mr Gareth McGrory, said Doherty was a talented football and had signed with Premier League club Southampton when he was 16 and played football at a variety of other clubs in England before returning home, where he worked for several companies, including Seagate. Doherty now operates a shop, out of a small portacabin, in the Galliagh area of Derry.

Judge John Aylmer said the offences merited 18 months imprisonment before considering mitigation. In considering Doherty’s circumstances, Judge Aylmer reduced the sentence to one of twelve months.

After the accused secured an address in County Donegal, he was deemed suitable for community service. In lieu of 12 months in prison, a community service order for 240 hours was imposed on Doherty.

Judge Aylmer also ordered the destruction of the goods and the forfeiture of €555 in cash located in the raid.