A man caught with heroin valued at almost €11 million - the then largest single seizure of the drug in the history of the State - has been remanded in custody pending sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Stephen Carlile (23) was paid €400 a week to mind almost €11.5 million worth of heroin and cannabis, along with a stash of guns and ammunition in his apartment at Áras na Cluaine, Nangor Road, Clondalkin, his sentencing hearing heard.
The father of one was also paid the €1,100 monthly rent on the apartment, described by gardaí as "effectively a drug warehouse in which the heroin was prepared for sale".
Carlile pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of over €10.6 million worth of heroin, €839,000 of cannabis, and to unlawful possession of a machine pistol, 1,609 rounds of a variety of ammunition, four magazine pistols and two silencers at the apartment on October 24, 2006.
Insp Gerard Delmar told Dominic McGinn BL, prosecuting, that a search of the apartment also revealed a radio scanner and speed loaders for loading firearms.
Carlile had three previous convictions for public order and road traffic offences. The inspector agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC (with David Whelahan), defending, that Carlile said he was told by the people he agreed to mind the drugs for, that if they were confiscated, he would be killed or if he ran away, his family would be killed.