Man sentenced for drug possession should have been given credit for not attempting to tender false evidence

Criminal law – sentencing – appeal against sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment imposed in respect of offence contrary to s. 15A of the 1977 Act – largest drug seizure in the history of the State (cocaine) – trial judge erred in principle by failing to afford any credit to the appellant for not giving false evidence at trial while his two co-accused did – appellant ought to have received credit in respect of the mitigating factor that he did not attempt to tender false evidence – trial judge failed to consider whether the appellant was entitled to some minor leeway in respect of the fact that he was called upon to serve a very lengthy custodial sentence in a country with which he had no apparent connection – principles of proportionality and totality – sentence of seventeen years and six months substituted – appeal allowed.