Man ran drug operation to pay off gambling debt
John Ryan, a 46-year-old father of two, of Airfield Terrace, St Patrick’s Rd, Limerick, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to having drugs worth almost €920,000 for sale or supply.
The drugs, which included heroin, cocaine, and cannabis, were discovered by gardaí when they raided Ryan’s rented apartment at Belfield House on Ennis Rd.
Ryan also admitted to illegally having a Walther pistol, a revolver, balaclavas, and 32 rounds of ammunition at the apartment.
John O’Sullivan, for the DPP, said the apartment was located in an affluent part of the city and Ryan was a “quartermaster” acting for a drugs gang.
He had been working for a professional courier company, and following his arrest, lost his job.
Sgt Sandra Heelan of the Limerick divisional drugs squad said that, on May 14, 2011, gardaí raided Belfield House, where along with the drugs they found guns, ammunition, balaclavas, and drug-packaging paraphernalia.
Ryan rented the apartment in Aug 2010, having embarked on the drugs operation to pay off a €10,000 gambling debt.
Sgt Heelan said Ryan assisted in the investigation and he was surprised at the value of the drugs found in the apartment.
As well as storing and mixing drugs, Ryan also was involved in bringing some of the drugs from Cork and dropping them off at various locations.
Gardaí accepted that Ryan was in fear of those he was working for and when he wanted to end his contact with the drugs gang, he was told that this was not possible.
Judge Carroll Moran said he wanted to read testimonials handed in to him on behalf of Ryan, one from Geraldines FC, a club he was a member of for many years.
He adjourned sentence to Oct 24, saying there were strong mitigating factors and strong aggravating factors such as the value of the drugs and the guns, which he wished to consider.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
