A man who was asked by a neighbouring drug dealer to hold heroin valued up to €110,000 has been found guilty of possession of drugs.
Patrick O'Neill (55), single, of O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, was described at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court as an honest, decent, hardworking gentleman by witnesses who said they were privileged to be his friend and shocked at him getting into this trouble.
O'Neill remanded in custody for sentence on January 22nd.
A young drug dealer who lives near O'Neill's home was the target in an operation which was set in motion on May 3rd, 2001 through confidential information received by the gardaí.
This man was not present when gardaí arrived at the house and found O'Neill with some heroin in front of him. A much larger amount was found in a tea cannister in the back garden.
O'Neill, who pleaded guilty to having the heroin for supply, admitted to gardaí he was caught red-handed and said he was ashamed for being involved. He was not selling the heroin himself but was afraid to name the person for whom he was holding it.
Defence counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC said his client had been spoken for by "articulate people of impeccable standing" who had all appealed for justice to be tempered by mercy in this case. His client was unlikely ever to re-offend.
However, Judge O'Donnell said every week in the court he saw mothers whose sons had been lured into the drugs scene and into great trouble. Good peoples' lives were ruined by drugs and the courts had to think of everyone. There would have to be a custodial sentence in this case.