Paramedics called as man jailed for drugs offence

Paramedics attended to a father of five when he was taken into custody after receiving a four-year jail term for transporting €400,000 worth of heroin in his car while accompanied by his one-year old daughter.

Karl Brennan, aged 36, who has a heart condition, appeared to be in distress after the sentence was imposed by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and an ambulance was called.

Brennan, described by his family as a caring and responsible father, told gardaí he had acted as a drug courier to make money for Christmas. He was caught after gardaí mounted a surveillance operation on his movements.

Brennan, of Harelawn Drive, Ronanstown, Dublin pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs at Tower Road, Clondalkin on December 10, 2015.

He has no previous convictions.

Judge Greally said she had sympathy for people under financial pressure but becoming involved in the “nefarious business” of moving drugs around the city could not be condoned.

She imposed a six-year sentence and suspended the final two years on strict conditions.

The court heard the person who had “deposited” the drugs in Brennan’s car was not apprehended.