Murder victim's friend jailed for drug offences

The best friend of a man murdered in a suspected drug-related execution and who was also beaten up at his funeral has been jailed for four years by Judge Yvonne Murphy.

Jason Lennon (aged 22), formerly of The Crescent, Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful possession of heroin valued Euro €124,000 for sale or supply on November 19, 2001.

Lennon's friend, David McCreevy was shot dead outside his Tallaght home last February, a few months after they were charged with the possession of the heroin. He was attacked and badly beaten at McCreevy's funeral because, gardai believe, of his involvement with the drugs.

Detective Garda Darragh O'Toole said some "very dangerous people" were behind the drugs operation and McCreevy was murdered because he was seen to be expendable.

Judge Murphy said that while the legislation allowed the court to take a number of matters into consideration in relation to the minimum 10 year sentence laid down in a case where the value of the drugs exceeded Euro €12,700, she still had to remember that sentence.

She was satisfied that Lennon had taken "very posititve steps" to deal with his addiction. He also had a partner and a young child and came from a decent hard-working family.

"But, the drug was heroin and the courts must indicate that people trafficking in drugs will be dealt with harshly. In this case I'm satisfied the sentence should be four years", she said.

Det Gda O'Toole told Mr Hugo Hynes BL, prosecuting, McCreevy's sister owned the house at The Crescent and Lennon and McCreevy rented rooms in it.

Gardai found amounts of heroin scattered in various parts of the house and a larger amount buried in the back garden. They also found drugs paraphernalia, such as a weighing scales and plastic bags.

Det Garda O'Toole said McCreevy would have been in more control of the operation than Lennon. The drugs seized had a total street value of €124,000. Lennon made a number of memos of an interview in which he admitted his involvement in the offence.

Det Garda O'Toole agreed with Mr Michael O'Higgins SC that Lennon had a serious drug problem at the time and was "merely the delivery boy" in the drugs hierarchy which had a sinister criminal who was currently serving prison sentences at the top of the pile.

Gardai were waiting for instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutons as to whether or not they could charge this man.

Mr O'Higgins said that the fatal shooting of McCreevy had a profound affect on his client but immediately after it he sought help for his drug addiction and began to turn his life around.

Sister Concillio Fitzgerald said Lennon had completed a residential treatment course with her and she wished she now had seven or eight people like him to help her out on a voluntary basis. She added that she only came to court when she felt someone really deserved it.

David Lennon, the accused's brother, said that when the family first heard of the offence the emotions they experienced were a mixture of anger, hurt, shame and embarrassment but the whole family rallied around to support Jason.

He had completely changed his attitude and was now a totally different person than a year ago.