Former Dundalk goalkeeper Van Boxtel sentenced to 10 years in prison

Van Boxtel in action for Dundalk

Former Dundalk goalkeeper Eddie Van Boxtel has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of cannabis worth €3.5m

Two and a half years of the sentence were suspended following the case at Naas Circuit Court today.

Van Boxtel – a member of the Dundalk side who won the Premier Division title in 1995 – was arrested on February 6^th 2008 at Castlewarden South, Kill, Co Kildare and charged with possession of cannabis resin worth €3.5m for sale or supply.

The 41-year-old, who resides in Silloge Avenue in Ballymun in Dublin, has been in custody since February 28^th last year.

Despite being one of several men arrested initially in February 2008, he was only arrested last February after gardaí executed a six-year-old warrant for his arrest.

Although he played for a time at Leeds United and at a number of other League of Ireland clubs, arguably Van Boxtel’s most famous sporting moment came when he saved a penalty from Eric Cantona, who was then playing for Manchester United, during a friendly at Oriel Park.

Former Dundalk goalkeeper on trial over €3.4m cannabis seizure

Van Boxtel in action for Dundalk

A former Dundalk FC goalkeeper charged over a €3.4m cannabis seizure was allegedly offered the chance to “make a few bob” by a man he picked up in his taxi.

Eddie van Boxtel (41) – who won a league title at Oriel Park back in 1995 – claimed he was simply employed by another man to “drive from A to B” after he complained “the taxi game is dead”.

The accused allegedly told detectives he never saw the cannabis resin, but admitted he knew “it wasn’t marshmallows” in the back of a van.

A court heard the street value of the drug was €3.45m.

The former Leeds United footballer pleaded not guilty before Kildare Circuit Court to possession of cannabis as well as having the drug for sale or supply on February 6, 2008.

Detective Garda Tom Barber alleged Mr van Boxtel met another man at a garage just outside Newbridge at 6.25am on February 6, 2008.

Gda Barber claimed the pair then drove off in the other man’s Audi A6 towards Rathangan Road, where Mr van Boxtel got into a silver Ford Transit van, which was parked in a lay-by.

Sergeant David Kennedy claimed Mr van Boxtel drove the van to a house at Clongorey, Naas, where he backed it into a shed at the back.

He allegedly drove off a few minutes later towards Rathangan Road and left the van in the same lay-by. It is alleged two other men came along a short time later in a Ford Fiesta, one got into the van, and they drove off in convey towards Dublin.

The van was stopped at the M7 Castlewarden, near Kill, and a pallet containing cannabis was found in the back.

Interviewed by Sgt Kennedy, Mr van Boxtel, of Sillogue Avenue in Ballymun, said he started working as a taxi driver when his football career ended.

One day he complained to a passenger the “taxi game was dead”, and this man took his mobile phone number, telling him he could earn a few extra bob as a driver.

During interview, Mr van Boxtel told to Sgt Kennedy he simply “drove from A to B”.

He said he did not see who dropped off the Ford Transit or who collected the drugs.

He said he did not put the cannabis into the van at Clongorey, and did “not have a clue” what the drug was worth.

A former goalkeeper, Mr van Boxtel played with several League of Ireland clubs, helping Dundalk to win the league in 1995.

His most famous sporting moment came when he saved a penalty from Eric Cantona, who was then playing for Manchester United, during a friendly at Oriel Park.

The trial continues before Judge Gerard Griffin.

Source: Irish Independent

Former Dundalk goalkeeper facing €10.5m drugs charge

Van Boxtel in action for Dundalk

A former Dundalk and Leeds United goalkeeper, who had failed to appear in court six years ago while on charges linked to a €10.5m cannabis find, has been arrested.

Officers from the garda national drugs unit arrested 40-year-old fugitive Eddie van Boxtel during an operation in Clondalkin, Dublin, late last week.

Mr Van Boxtel had been on the garda wanted list after he failed to appear at Naas District Court and a warrant for his arrest was issued in July 2008.

The former soccer star, with an address at Sillogue Avenue, Ballymun, is charged with possession of a controlled drug, cannabis resin, and possession for sale and supply, at Castlewarden South, Kill, Co Kildare.

After his arrest, Mr Van Boxtel was brought before Naas court and remanded in custody in Cloverhill Prison to appear in court on Wednesday. He was not awarded bail.

Det Sgt Greg Sheehan told the court that Mr Van Boxtel had false documentation when he was arrested.

Mr Van Boxtel was one of four men arrested by gardai following the seizure of a large cannabis haul at Castlewarden on the Naas dual carriageway and brought before Naas court.

His failure to turn up in court for a scheduled appearance came five months after he had been charged with the offence.

Dutch-born Mr Van Boxtel was a well-known goalkeeper and played with several League of Ireland clubs.

He helped Dundalk to win the league in 1995 and also played with Galway United, Monaghan United, Home Farm and Bray Wanderers.

He also spent a season with Leeds United at the age of 17 but returned home after clashing with his manager.

His most famous sporting moment came when he saved a penalty from Eric Cantona during Dundalk’s friendly with Manchester United in the early ‘Nineties.

Source: Irish Independent