Daniel McCartney jailed for four months

Daniel McCartney, 60, from St Eithne's Park, Londonderry, was jailed for four months on Friday after Customs officers picked him up three times coming off the same flight at Belfast International Airport. He was first arrested on December 21, 2006 when he came off a flight from Lanzarote with almost 40,000 cigarettes. He took the same route and was caught again exactly three weeks later, this time with more than 50,000 cigarettes and £1,600 in cash. Then on March 29, 2007 - three months after his first arrest - he was caught again coming off the Lanzarote flight.This time he noticed Customs officers at the airport and tried to abandon his luggage. But they challenged him and he admitted the luggage - containing more than 30,000 cigarettes - was his. A follow-up search of his home yielded another 3,760 cigarettes and £2,254 in cash.Customs officials said McCartney had tried to evade duty worth £23,000. On Friday the unemployed man forfeited all the cash and was sentenced to four months in prison at Antrim Crown Court.Sentencing him, Judge David Smith said he had to prevent him from re-offending and find a way to discourage others. He said that after consideration the only way this could be achieved was by a period of custody. McCartney, who pleaded guilty to smuggling charges last November, will also be on probation for two years after his release.