AN unemployed man with a £600 mobile phone was "a drug dealer of substance", said Judge Cyril Kelly when he jailed him for 7 1/2 years.
Sean McEntee (23), of North Great George's Street, Dublin, had about £1,500 worth of heroin when his home was raided on January 10th, 1995.
The raid was part of an operation by the North City Divisional Drugs Unit which targeted two major drugs families, Garda Darragh O'Toole told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gardai saw McEntee remove his trousers and then try to destroy a white package he recovered from his body.
He later recovered another package with 70 heroin deals from his body while in detention. He pleaded guilty to having the heroin for sale or supply.
"There is no doubt from the evidence and from the probation report that this man has been involved with one of the country's biggest drug operators for five years and has arranged the distribution of drugs without having to go on the streets," Judge Kelly said.
Garda O'Toole said McEntee was unemployed but had a £600 mobile phone. He inherited his home from his parents. He had three previous convictions.
Ms Vandra Dyke, defending, said her client was only "a small cog in a very large wheel" and was unaware of the damage his drug dealing was doing. He was an addict who sold to feed his own habit.
"In my view, he didn't care what harm his drug dealing did to others," said Judge Kelly.