Headlines/Archives
Mobile
RSSMan faces 10-year jail sentence after drugs haul
A young man who turned to drugs following the suicide of three of his friends in a short period of time faces a possible 10-year sentence after being caught transporting almost half a million euro of cocaine to repay a debt.
Gerard Beirne (aged 22), who has 20 previous convictions, told gardaí he had “two ‘k’s’ of really c**p coke” after he was arrested while making a drop off of a package from the €450,000 cocaine cache stored in his car.
Beirne, of The Vale, Woodfarm, Palmerstown, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply in the car park of Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on June 22, 2009 and to possession of a smaller quantity of drugs at his home on June 23, 2009.
Judge Desmond Hogan said Beirne was supplying a “valuable service” to the criminal gang and that he had become involved with them through his own drug use, noting the old saying: “If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas”.
He said however the court would have regard to the fact that he was under pressure.
Judge Hogan ordered a probation report and remanded Beirne further in custody until his sentence date in April.
Detective Garda Catriona Keyes told Ms Gerardine Small BL, prosecuting, that gardaí acting on confidential information mounted a surveillance operation outside McDonalds in the Blanchardstown Shopping centre.
Beirne drove a black Seat Ibiza into the car park and was later observed carrying a Lidl shopping bag as he walked over to a red Citreon van. He opened the passenger door and then walked away without the bag.
Gardaí stopped the van and its occupant as it began to drive away and found the Lidl bag in the passenger foot well. It contained five duct tape wrapped packages of cocaine.
Gardaí called out to Beirne to stop as he walked away and observed him drop two mobile phones and a set of keys on the ground.
He was arrested and gardaí found a torn piece of cardboard in his car with three mobile phone numbers written on it as well as two canvas shopping bags, each containing four blocks of cocaine.
Drug paraphernalia such as weighing scales, plastic bags, duct tape, plastic gloves and a tub containing Lidocaine was found in the boot of Beirne’s car.
Beirne told gardaí he owned money for drugs and “was in someone's pocket”. A small quantity of cocaine and a “tick list” were found in his bedroom in a follow up search of his home.
Gda Keyes agreed with defence counsel, Mr Patrick Marrinan SC (with Mr Seamus Clarke BL), that Beirne was under pressure due to a debt arising from his own drug use and this was his motivation.
She agreed Beirne told gardaí this job would be worth €2,000 off the €10,000 drug debt.
Mr Marrinan said Beirne was involved in charity and voluntary work in his community. He said he had also played football with Cherry Orchard and Shelbourne football clubs for a time.
He said three of Beirne’s friends had committed suicide within a short time in 2007 and he had been particularly effected by the suicide of a close friend who hung himself.
Beirne began taking drugs and got drawn into that subculture which was alien to his family values and upbringing.
Mr Marrinan said Beirne was not profiteering or making any money but was attempting to get himself out of a predicament.
He submitted that there was very strong evidence Beirne could be rehabilitated into the community.
