AN Englishman who is in protective custody in the State after being caught with a huge consignment of heroin has been jailed for 10 years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jeremiah Miller was on his second visit to Dublin within days when caught during a major Garda drugs surveillance operation.
He had two consignments of heroin - a batch which had been rejected by a Dublin drugs cartel for its low quality and a replacement batch he was sent back with from Liverpool.
Mr Brendan Grogan SC, defending, said that Miller was terrified for his life in Mountjoy prison and was under protection. His wife had received several phone calls from drugs cartel personnel threatening her and their eight month old daughter.
Judge Cyril Kelly directed that Miller serve three years of the sentence here and then be deported in 1999 on condition that he serve the balance of the 10 year sentence in an English prison.
The case is to be mentioned on July 17th, 1997 to ascertain the views of the British and Irish authorities on Miller's deportation in 1999 so that he can serve the balance of his sentence in England.
Det Garda Peter Noonan said that Miller had been on licence since 1994 from an English prison with six years still to serve of a 15 year sentence for conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He is also wanted in England on a warrant for another drug courier offence. He had 20 previous convictions.
Miller (36), of Gill Street, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to having 1.5 kg of heroin for supply on May 21st last at Clontarf, Dublin.
Judge Kelly said that he could not shut his eyes to the dreadful effects of drugs on our society. "Day after day I see the results of heroin addiction. Some of the victims became addicts as young as 12 years of age.
The fact that the dealers here could reject £500,000 worth of heroin because of unsuitable quality indicated the vast amount of money involved in this "deadly, addictive, destructive business".
Det Garda Noonan told Mr Peter Charleton SC, prosecuting, that gardai involved in a major anti drugs operation in the north city area became suspicious of Miller and two other English nationals.
The men were seen leaving a pub at Northside Shopping Centre, Dublin, with a hold all. Their taxi was monitored by gardai. When it was stopped in Clontarf the drugs were recovered.
Miller took responsibility for the drugs. Three packs were secreted on his person and the fourth was in the holdall.
The heroin was found to be 20 per cent pure and its street value at current prices was £500,000.
Mr Charleton said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided that there was not sufficient evidence to mount a case against the two men detained with Miller. They had made no admissions and did not have possession of the drugs.
Miller had travelled to Dublin with bogus documents in the name of "Anthony Francis O'Connell", but had revealed his true identity to gardai. He said he had been asked by a friend in Liverpool to take a package to Dublin for a fee of £500 and expenses. He wasn't told what was in the packet, but admitted he was aware it was drugs.
He made contact with people in Dublin, as arranged, and handed over the heroin. Miller was contacted when he was back in Liverpool and was told the people in Dublin had claimed the "gear was no good". He was sent back with a new supply.