Pilot who flew cocaine into midlands was ‘people pleaser’

A pilot who was found guilty of transporting €8.4m worth of cocaine from northern France into a midlands airport in 2022 has claimed his actions were down to him being a “people pleaser”.

Michal Luczak (44), formerly of Primrose Avenue, Jigginstown, Naas, County Kildare, now with an address at The Davitt, Dublin 12, appeared before Judge Cephas Power at Mullingar Circuit Court, where his defence team made an application for a psychological report.

The court heard that Mr Luczak suffered from childhood abandonment issues due to being separated from his mother for a number of years when he was just one month old.

The court heard that led him to become a “people pleaser”, which made him vulnerable to the false narratives of his co-accused.

Mr Luczak went on trial in October on four charges, including the possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply, possession of cocaine valued at €13,000 or more for the purpose of sale or supply, and the importation from another country of drugs to the value of €13,000 or more.

Those charges relate to the transportation of 120kg of cocaine, valued at €8.4m from northern France into Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, County Longford, on August 4, 2022.

Judge Power granted the application and extended legal aid to cover the report before adjourning the case to October for mention. The case will then be further adjourned to reappear before Judge Roderick Maguire for sentence.