An Aer Lingus worker has been jailed for four years for helping to smuggle illegal immigrants through Dublin Airport.
63 year old Frederick Cham from Railway Cottages, Hazelhatch in Co Kildare pleaded guilty to charges relating to the illegal entry of seven people into the country.
He told gardai it was a mickey mouse operation and he spend the cash on pints. The Judge described it as a devious crime.
The court heard Frederick Cham and another Aer Lingus worker helped people avoid passport control by taking them into a staff lift.
They were also provided with Aer Lingus branded hi viz jackets and driven in a catering van.
The offences took place in December 2016 and January 2017.
When he was arrested Cham denied his activities were part of organised crime.
He said it was a bit of ‘fast cash’ to get by and described it as a ‘mickey mouse operation’.
He said he spent the cash on pints of Guniness – adding "It was like telling a rat, there's a little hole, out you go."
Cham – who is originally from Hong Kong - pleaded guilty to charges involving the illegal entry of seven people into the state and receiving more than six thousand euro in the proceeds of crime.
