THE businessman who helped import Ireland’s biggest ever haul of crystal meth has been beaten up behind bars.
Nathan McDonnell, 44, suffered a broken jaw after being attacked by Kinahan associate Glen Thompson at Portlaoise Prison.
He is awaiting sentencing for facilitating an crime gang to import more than €32million of crystal meth.
It had been stashed in a machine at Ballyseedy Garden Centre, in Tralee, Co Kerry, which he used to run.
McDonnell’s solicitor, Padraig O’Connell, today called for a safety plan to be put in place after the “very violent assault”.
Urging new Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to make a statement, he declared: “Mr McDonnell is not a violent man, he is in the care of the State.
“The State have obviously left him down very badly in that he was left open to a very violent assault.
“That assault encompassed a broken jaw, in respect to which he is receiving assessment and ongoing management from consultants in the HSE on a secondary care setting.”
Mr O’Connell said McDonnell was due to be taken to hospital today for surgery on his jaw.
He told Radio Kerry it was for “the placement of wiring in that area for the purposes of rehabilitation and recovery”.
Mr O’Connell said “there are many issues arising from this,” but the solicitor says none of the issues “should get in the way of his sentencing on Friday”.
However, the lawyer admitted this is likely to now take place “in his absence” at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
But Mr O’Connell added: “In respect of Mr McDonnell, going forward, his safety is paramount, and he’s obviously under the auspices of the State.”
Cops found the meth haul at the Port of Cork on February 15, 2024.
Bags of crystal meth valued at €32.4m were recovered.
The SCC has previously heard that McDonnell was to be paid €150,000 for his role in the drugs op — but was unaware of the contents of the machine.
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