Two Limerick brothers, involved in a major drug-dealing operation have been jailed for a total of six years.
Vincent Collopy (26) and his 19-year-old brother Jonathan Collopy, both of St Ita's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick, were arrested following an undercover Garda operation established to target the sale of heroin.
Operation "Clean Street" was put in place after gardaí became concerned about the level of heroin dealing in Limerick city, the local Circuit Court heard yesterday.
The Collopy brothers, along with three other accused, were arrested and charged after two undercover members of the Garda National Bureau succeeded in buying drugs from a house in St Ita's Street in St Mary's Park on five separate occasions in November 2004.
The house at St Ita's Street was specifically targeted, the court heard, as it was regarded as the centre for drug-dealing operations. A number of items were discovered inside the house including weighing scales, tick-lists, and €3,000 in cash.
Cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and over €4,000 in cash were discovered following a raid on another house in St Ita's Street owned by Vincent Collopy.
The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to a number of offences including two counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply, and two counts of possession of cannabis and amphetamines on dates in 2004.
His brother Jonathan, pleaded guilty to a total of nine separate charges, which included five counts of possession of heroin for the purpose of sale and supply.
Judge Carroll Moran jailed both brothers for five years yesterday, but suspended two years of each of the sentences.