Decorator sentenced to 11 years after €200,000 heroin find
A Clondalkin painter and decorator been given an 11-year sentence by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he was caught with heroin that had an estimated street value of almost €200,000.
Paul Boyce (26) has five previous convictions including three for drug related offences.
Boyce, of Newlands Manor Park, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Weavers Court, Clondalkin, on February 2, 2008.
Judge Patricia Ryan said she was taking into account the testimonials handed into court on Boyce’s behalf but noted that he had already been given a chance by the Circuit Court when he was given a suspended sentence for a previous drugs offence.
She imposed an 11-year sentence but suspended the final three years on strict conditions.
Garda Marcus Rowntree told Mr Dominic McGinn BL, prosecuting, that he was on patrol in Clondalkin when he noticed an individual acting suspiciously in the vicinity of a Honda CRV car which the accused had been using.
At about 7 pm a Honda Civic driven by Boyce pulled up behind the other car and after going into the apartments for a short time, he drove off. He came back and pulled up behind the other car again.
Gda Rowntree said he approached Boyce as he got into the Honda CRV car and he dropped a yellow plastic bag which was found to contain heroin with a street value of €193,400.
Defence counsel, Mr Sean Gillane SC, submitted Boyce had no trappings of wealth and was using drugs himself at the time of the offence. He said Boyce lived in the family home and had the support of his family.
Mr Gillane said Boyce had completed his Leaving Certificate and started an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator but began to abuse drugs and come before the courts. He said Boyce had been working on and off since the offence and “seems to have put right before wrong in his life in the last two years.”
