Man delivered drugs in electric fan boxes
Gerry Gallagher, aged 28, of 13 Glenview Drive, Hospital Limerick, yesterday admitted at Limerick Circuit Court to having part of the consignment worth €39,780 for sale or supply.
Gallagher told gardai he hid the drugs for a man he feared as he needed to pay off debts due from drugs and gambling on horses.
Det Garda Michael Reidy went to the home of Gallagher’s partner near Bruff with a search warrant on September 20, 2012, and found an empty box which was used to store a brand of electric fan in a recycling bin.
During an earlier surveillance operation gardaí saw the accused collecting an number of these electrical fan boxes from a van near the Ballykisteen Hotel in Limerick Junction. Gardai had CCTV footage of Gallagher collecting the boxes.
Det Garda David McGrath said the van had also made ‘drops’ of boxes at Ballysimon near Limerick city, Bansha and Tipperary town.
When the van was subequently stopped at Gowran, Co Kilkenny cannabis worth €500,000 was found in electric fan boxes.
After his arrest, Gallagher initially denived his involvement in the drugs operation. During questioning Gallagher made admissions.
Judge Tom O’Donnell said this was a classic example of a small-time drugs user getting into debt to pay off his debts and then being draw into a vicious circle.
He imposed a three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.
