Steel fabricator 'stored cocaine with market value of €133,000'
A steel fabricator who spent up to €2,000 a week on drugs has been given an eight-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of a firearm and storing drugs to feed his cocaine and heroin habit.
Joseph Moore (aged 36) was a talented steal fabricator earning €800 a day in his successful gate making business who stored cocaine with a market value of €133,094 in his business premises to repay a drug debt.
Garda Damien Mangan told prosecuting counsel, Mr Remy Farrell BL, that Moore said he owed a drug debt of about €3,000 and was storing the drugs for the owners to reduce it
The father of three declined to name the criminals who owned the cocaine as he was "in fear of his life".
He told gardaí he was addicted to heroin and cocaine and was spending up to €2,000 a week on the drugs.
Moore of Snowdrop Walk, Darndale, pleaded guilty to possession of the cocaine for sale or supply at Wallace Yard, Belcamp Lane, Coolock on May 14, 2007.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a blank firing pistol, possession of cocaine valued €30 and heroin valued €60 and driving without insurance on July 3, 2006.
Judge Katherine Delahunt noted that Moore had 33 previous convictions but had carried out voluntary work in his community and had strong family support.
She said there were "special and exceptional circumstances" in this case and imposed a one year sentence on the firearms charge with a consecutive seven-year sentence for the possession of the large cache of cocaine.
She suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions.
Gda Mangan said gardaí searched Moore’s business premises at Belcamp Lane on foot of confidential information and found four blocks of cocaine in a sports bag.
Gda Mangan agreed with defence counsel, Mr Michael O’Higgins SC (with Ms Caroline Biggs BL), that Moore was "polite, courteous and respectful" as he co-operated with gardaí during interview.
Gda Mangan also agreed with Mr O’Higgins that Moore told them he had got into debt with the drug dealers after he was not paid for a job on which he had out laid money.
Sergeant John Fitzgerald told Mr Farrell that gardaí searched a work shed at the rear of Moore’s family home in July 2006 on foot of confidential information and found a blank firing pistol, some bullets and small amount of cocaine and heroin he kept for personal use.
Moore was arrested in his car nearby and told gardaí that he had bought the gun in Spain a number of years previously as an ornament.
He had dismantled it some time previously and it had "blown up" in his face. He said he had been planning to make a chain from the bullets.
Sgt Fitzgerald said the weapon was not in working order and the bullets could not have been used in the gun.
Mr O’Higgins told Judge Delahunt that Moore’s partner was training as a drug counsellor so she could better understand his needs and although she was supportive she would not allow him to live with her and their children until he was drug free.
Mr O’Higgins said the case followed "an unusual pattern" because Moore had a "solid" start in life and had abstained from drink and drugs until his early 20s. His business had folded since his arrest and he lived with his mother.
Counsel added that Moore had carried out "spontaneous good acts for the community" in a voluntary capacity and was "a strong candidate for rehabilitation".
