A French man who tried to import nearly a quarter of a million euro worth of cannabis into the country has been sentenced to the mandatory minimum term of ten years.

46-year-old William Demonio, with an address in Mozambique but who is originally from France, was caught at Dublin Airport after arriving from South Africa carrying two bags containing the drugs.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 23 kilos of the drug.

The father of one said he left France to go to Africa with his girlfriend, but the relationship broke up when his child contracted malaria – he also said he was under threat from the mafia in South Africa.

Judge Desmond Hogan suspended the final three years of the sentence for five years on strict conditions.