The Director of Public Prosecutions v Arunas Stonys
Date
6 November 2025
Venue
Letterkenny Circuit Court
Judge
His Honour Judge John Aylmer
Summary
Detection of excisable products, namely 9,000 cigarettes, the subject of a controlled delivery to a residential address at 109 Blue Cedars, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal on 19 April 2021 and subsequent seizure of a further 40,480 cigarettes found as a result of a search of the same premises on that day.
Mr. Arunas Stonys, with an address at 2 Lawnsdale, Navenny, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal entered a plea of guilty to Count 1 evasion of a duty of excise contrary to Section 119(2) of the Finance Act, 2001, as amended:
- Were concerned in the evasion of a duty of excise on excisable products to wit, 9,000 cigarettes with intent to defraud either directly or indirectly the State of such duty.
- Did Keep for sale or delivery specified Tobacco products to wit 49,480 cigarettes in a pack or packs upon which Tax Stamps had not been affixed to each such pack.
Outcome
On 6 November 2025, at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Aylmer sentenced Mr. Stonys to 160 hours Community Service in lieu of 8 months imprisonment to be completed within 12 months on Count 1 Evasion charge. Count 2 taken into consideration. A destruction order was granted in relation to the cigarettes.