By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
AN IRISH-born man, who last month told the Montego Bay Resident Magistrates Court that he was trying to smuggle 2.1kg (4lb 10 oz) of cocaine from the island to pay for a sex change operation, was on Monday sentenced to two years in prison at hard labour.
He was also fined $400,000 or six months at hard labour.
Anthony Carey, 40-years-old, who had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine and taking steps preparatory to exporting cocaine, had implored Resident Magistrate Ms. Valrie Stephens not to impose a custodial sentence on him, as he feared he would be killed in prison.
LENGTHY SUBMISSION
Carey, who made a lengthy submission to the court while reading from a prepared text in a previous appearance, had also asked that he be treated as a woman and be referred to as an 'inter-sex.'
In handing down sentence, Ms. Stephens, who had asked for a social inquiry report on Carey and also a letter from his doctors, told him she could not accede to his request to be treated as a female or spare him a custodial sentence. She nonetheless ordered that Carey's medical records be sent to the Department of Corrections to see how best he can be accommodated.
Carey, an unemployed student, who was born in the Republic of Ireland but has been living in Birmingham, England, for the past two years, told the court that he was in the middle of a sex change operation and wanted to be treated as a woman. He told the court then that he was not a homosexual but wanted to be referred to as an 'inter-sex'.
He also told the court that he did not want to be seen as a freak as "God made me what I am and I just want to look on the outside as I feel on the inside."
The frail, balding man, had told the court he was sent to collect what he thought was ganja by individuals, who offered him protection as he was being attacked by persons in the area, who knew of his 'status'.
ATTACKED
He also told the court he was attacked several times while in lock-up and that there was an attempt on his life. He added that he sometimes went for long periods without showering as he was forced to bathe with other men. He said he was very nervous and afraid of being sent to a male prison as he could be killed if news of his condition spread at the lock-up.
Carey was arrested on March 31 when his luggage was searched prior to his planned departure from the island on a chartered flight to Manchester, England. The police found six packages containing cocaine in a hidden compartment in his suitcase.
On Monday he was fined $100,000 or six months on each count of possession and dealing and $200,000 or six months for attempting to export cocaine.
