Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman jailed for escorting illegal immigrants into Ireland
Summary
Paula Dos Santos, an Italian national aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the final six months suspended, for escorting three illegal immigrants onto two flights from Italy to Dublin. She acted as an escort for an Albanian man and his fiancée, who had been issued with bogus Italian identity cards, and also for another Albanian man who arrived under similar circumstances three months earlier. Dos Santos pleaded guilty to three charges of knowingly facilitating the entry of persons she knew or had reasonable cause to believe were illegal immigrants or asylum seekers. She had no prior convictions and was on remand since her arrest at Dublin airport in August of the previous year. The judge acknowledged her cooperation and lack of previous convictions, and noted that she was motivated by financial strain, receiving €500 for her role. The sentence was back‑dated to August of the previous year.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman jailed for escorting illegal immigrants into Ireland. Charges or matters: three charges of organising or knowingly facilitating the entry into the State of a person who she knew, or had reasonable cause to believe was an illegal immigrant or a person who intended to seek asylum on May 21, 2019 and August 28, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 21, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 28, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-03-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: three charges of organising or knowingly facilitating the entry into the State of a person who she knew, or had reasonable cause to believe was an illegal immigrant or a person who intended to seek asylum on May 21, 2019 and August 28, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally backdated an 18-month sentence to August last year and suspended the final six months having taken into account Dos Santos co-operation and lack of previous convictions. "It is a difficult time for an Italian national to be away from home," Judge Greally said.
Places mentioned
Topics
Airport Incidents Stage Sentence
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
Help us improve this report
Your request is saved for the newsroom's next review. It does not immediately change the published report.
Prefer email? Send a correction request.