Suspended sentence for man caught buying heroin
A Meath man who was caught buying almost €2,500 worth of heroin from a drug dealer has been given a two-year suspended sentence by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gerard Rowe (aged 42), with an address at Townspark, Navan, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply in Dublin 7, on June 12, 2007.
His 32 previous convictions included a 20-year sentence handed down in Navan Circuit Criminal Court in October 1986 for aggravated burglary. Rowe had served 15 years of this term.
Sergeant Charles Armstrong told Mr Fergal Foley BL, prosecuting, that the dealer was under Garda surveillance when he witnessed Rowe handing over €760 for the drugs.
Rowe later admitted in Garda interview that he had bought the drugs with the intention of keeping half for himself and his partner and selling the rest. He said he had been operating in this way for about a year.
Sgt Armstrong agreed with Mr Justin McQuade BL, defending, that both Rowe and his partner are serious heroin addicts who live with their two young children in "impoverished conditions".
He said there was no signs of wealth in Rowe’s life which would indicate that he had profited from drug dealing.
Judge Hogan suspended the two-year term on the condition that Rowe undergo drug treatment and adjourned the case to determine if he was suitable to carry out community service.
