Paul Bourrigan: 39-year-old Eastlakes man sentenced for granny flat drug operation in Blue Bay, Central Coast

A man has been sentenced for his “unsophisticated” involvement in a granny flat clandestine meth lab operation on The Central Coast. Here’s the latest.

A man will walk out of jail next year, despite his involvement in a clandestine meth lab on the Central Coast.

Paul Bourrigan, of Eastlakes in southern Sydney, has been convicted via audiovisual link in Gosford District Court, after pleading guilty to manufacturing and supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

The court heard the 39-year-old man was one of four men charged in relation to the discovery of a clandestine drug lab in the granny flat of a Blue Bay property last year.

Two men have previously been sentenced, while one man pleaded not guilty to the offences and will face trial in April next year.

Strike Force Kavieng was established in 2021 to investigate an alleged criminal syndicate involved in the manufacturing and supply of prohibited drugs.

NEWSWIRE 10-01-2022 Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have charged four men as they continue to dismantle a large clandestine laboratory located on the state’s Central Coast this morning. Picture: NSW Police

NEWSWIRE 10-01-2022 Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have charged four men as they continue to dismantle a large clandestine laboratory located on the state’s Central Coast this morning. Picture: NSW Police

From July 2021, police tracked the offender visiting the Bunnings Tuggerah store on many occasions where he made a number of large purchases of items commonly used in the manufacture of drugs including acetone, caustic soda and various tubes and piping.

By September, Bourrigan was in regular contact with the co-offender and would travel to his Blue Bay address on a weekly basis and would stay for up to five days at a time.

While visiting the co-offender, Bourrigan would go to Bunnings and purchase items consistent with the use of manufacturing drugs.

NEWSWIRE 10-01-2022 Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have charged four men as they continue to dismantle a large clandestine laboratory located on the state’s Central Coast this morning. Picture: NSW Police

Bourrigan admitted to being involved in setting up the clandestine meth lab in the granny flat of the Blue Bay residence between January 7 to 9, 2022.

Judge Justin Smith said the co-offender and offender moved large items into the laboratory on this day.

The offender travelled back to Sydney on January 9, 2022, where he was arrested by police later that evening.

NEWSWIRE 10-01-2022 Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have charged four men as they continue to dismantle a large clandestine laboratory located on the state’s Central Coast this morning. Picture: NSW Police

“A shopping bag containing 305 grams of methamphetamine were located and the offender’s mobile phone was examined, revealing that he was supplying drugs around the residential area in Eastlakes,” he said.

Judge Smith said the motives of the crime was financial gain.

He categorised the operation as “below mid-level” because of the amount of chemicals involved and the “lack of sophistication in the conduct of the manufacturing process.

“The offender was not involved in street level dealing but was rather slightly higher up in the chain.”

Judge Smith acknowledged Bourrigan’s difficult childhood and mental illnesses when he was 13 causing him to spiral and sought treatment in drugs.

Judge Smith sentenced Bourrigan to jail for four years and three months, commencing from the date he was arrested.

Bourrigan will be eligible for parole May 8, 2024.