Drug-dealers sold cannabis and speed on the steps of one of Ireland's most famous churches, Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court has been told.
Convicting three men of drug offences, the court was told one of them sold 20 deals, or wraps, of speed outside St Peter's Church, Drogheda, which contains the shrine of St Oliver Plunkett, the night before gardai caught him.
Glenn Geraghty (23), The Dale, Brian Moran (20), of Brookville, and Alan Hammond, Trinity Street, all Drogheda, pleaded guilty to possessing controlled drugs with intent to supply in November 1997.
Det Garda Seamus Nolan said the drugs unit was carrying out surveillance on a house in Boyne Hall, Drogheda on November 7th, 1997 as it suspected drugs were being dealt from it.
Just before 11 p.m. a taxi pulled up and gardai followed it to Trinity Street, Drogheda. Hammond got out and was searched by gardai who found he had cannabis and amphetamines.
He was arrested and taken to Drogheda Garda station. A short time later Geraghty was arrested. As a result of information received by gardai they then arrested the third defendant, Moran. All three made statements admitting their involvement.
The court was told Hammond, Geraghty and another defendant, a juvenile, got their drugs from Moran and told gardai this in their statements. However, Moran would not name the supplier, as he feared for his life, his barrister told Judge Raymond Groarke.
Judge Groarke sentenced Moran to four years' imprisonment, to be reviewed in two years. Geraghty received a three-year sentence, to be reviewed in 18 months. Sentence on Hammond was adjourned after Det Garda Nolan said that out of the three he was the only one not still actively involved in drugs. Sentence was adjourned for six months on condition that he take up a residential place in a drug treatment clinic.