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

Dundalk set up Towns’ Cup clash with Enniscorthy after victory over Naas

Dundalk RFC coach Ene Fa’atau in action against Enniscorthy on Sunday. Picture: Mark Webb / Photonua

Dundalk RFC will travel to Enniscorthy in the third round of the Provincial Towns’ Cup after seeing off the challenge of Naas on a 22-0 scoreline at the Mill Road on Sunday.

Ultan Murphy gave the home side the lead with a penalty after 10 minutes and Dundalk never looked back after that with Murphy adding three further penalties before the break to give his side a 12-0 lead at half-time.

Naas piled the pressure on when the game resumed but Dundalk held out before Murphy added another penalty to make it 15-0.

They then sealed the win with an excellent team try 15 minutes from time with Stephen Martin getting over in the corner.

Murphy then made it six kicks from six by adding the conversion to set his side up nicely for the trip to the South East on Sunday March 16^th.

Dundalk RFC: S McGee, J Shields, O McNally, MJ McKevitt, R O’Hagan, U Murphy, T Campbell, E Faatau, S Martin, J McConnon, M Bentley, C O’Hanlon, R Farrell, J Gray, C Brannigan. Subs: J Smith, L Steen, G Whately, S Murphy, R Shields.

Dundalk RFC to host lunch before Towns’ Cup clash with Naas

Dundalk RFC will be hosting a lunch at their grounds on the Mill Road this Sunday ahead of their Provincial Towns’ Cup clash against Naas.

The match has a 3pm kick-off on the day but before that there will be an open pre-match lunch to mark the occasion. The two-course meal costs €15, which also includes admission to the match.

Kids meals will also be available at €3 a plate.

To reserve your place contact Tommy Campbell on 087-6362778 or Larry Steen on 086-2470149.

New edition of The Rugby Show airs on Dundalk FM tonight

The new monthly edition of ‘The Rugby Show’ will air this evening at 7pm on Dundalk FM.

Hosted by Geraldine Kieran and Stephen Smyth, the show will look back on Ireland’s momentous 26-3 win over Wales last weekend and discuss the country’s prospects of a Triple Crown.

They’ll also discuss Dundalk RFC’s Towns’ Cup clash at home to Naas this Sunday.

Man who suffered severe injuries in Dundalk accident is awarded €5.2m

The Industrial Park in Dundalk where Mr Crabbe’s accident occurred

A young man who suffered brain damage and other devastating injuries while working in Dundalk yesterday secured €5.2m damages in a settlement of his high court action.

On January 14th 2008, a high voltage current coursed through Nicholas Crabbe, then aged 19, after a steel lamp pole he was holding became live when it came into contact with a live overhead power line, the court heard.

Mr Crabbe suffered severe full thickness burns and had to have some fingers and toes amputated after the accident which occurred when he was inserting metal poles for lighting at the IDA industrial park outside Dundalk.

Now aged 24, he is brain-damaged with speaking difficulties and is confined to a wheelchair.

Mr Crabbe, Ventry Road, Cabra, Dublin had, through his mother Pauline, sued his then employers AI Read Electrical Company Ltd, Santry, Dublin and Hydro Excavation (Ireland) Ltd, Damastown, Mulhuddart.

He also sued Kilwex Ltd, Naas, Co Kildare as the main contractor responsible for the construction work on the IDA business park at the time of the accident.

It was claimed the defendant employers were responsible for the operation, management and direction of him in his work and had a duty to provide him with a safe place of work and not to expose him to a risk of of danger.

Kilwex, it was claimed, was obliged to ensure the site was safe and without risk of injury to the safety, health and welfare of Mr Crabbe when working there.

Mr Crabbe was installing steel lamp poles into sockets along the road at the business park when the accident occurred. He was working as part of a two man crew with a colleague driving the lorry and operating the crane.

Ms Justice Mary Irvine was told a steel lamp pole, while suspended from the crane and being manoeuvered into place into the ground socket, came into contact with a live overhead power line.

Turlough O’Donnell SC, for Mr Crabbe, said the high voltage electricity cable had not been disconnected and Mr Crabbe was very severely electrocuted and later suffered two heart attacks causing a deprivation of oxygen to the brain. Mr Crabbe also suffered severe burning, counsel added.

He said the young man is in a wheelchair as physiotherapy has not been available to him for some time. When physiotherapy was available, Mr Crabbe could walk up to fifty metres with a rollametre, counsel added.

Approving the settlement, the judge said she knew nothing would ever compensate Nicholas or his mother for the injuries received but the money would go some way towards giving him a better quality of life. It was a very good settlement, the judge added.