Drug dealer jailed for part in assault

A drug dealer who was involved in the vicious assault of a taxi-driver who was hit with a brick while face down in a river has been jailed for four years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Keith Nolan, aged 23, of Mulvey Park, Dundrum pleaded guilty to his role in the assault on the taxi-driver on July 20, 2002 at Windy Arbour and to having cannabis valued some €27,000 for sale or supply on November 2, 2002.

Garda Brendan Donohoe told prosecuting counsel, Mr Justin Dillon BL, he found cocaine valued up to €6,000 under the seat of Nolan's moped on November 2 at Mulvey Park and also recovered a key which was for Nolan's grandmother's house nearby.

Garda Donohoe said a search of the house revealed a cache of cannabis valued at some €27,000.

Nolan admitted the drugs were his for sale and supply.

Cash totalling €795 was also recovered.

Brian Fearon, aged 26, of Clonard, Brittas, Co Dublin, who was Nolan's co-accused in the assault case, was jailed on November 27 last for four years his role in that crime.

The four years was consecutive to two other sentences totalling another four years for drug dealing and the final three years of the total eight years was suspended on conditions in his case.

Garda Darren Kerins told Mr Dillon the taxi-driver called to Glasson Court in Windy Arbour to settle for €2,000 damage done to a vehicle by his son.

Fearon shaped up to him and declared the cost would be "€10,000 or a funeral on Monday."

He proceeded to shadow-box the victim who fell into the nearby River Dargle where he held the victim's face down in the water while Nolan hammered him with a brick.

Garda Kerins said Fearon bit the taxi driver on his face when he got his head up out of the water before it was pushed down again by Fearon.

The victim made his escape after he knocked over one of his attackers against the other.

Mr George Birmingham SC, defending in the drugs case said Nolan's involvement arose solely from his own addiction but he had voluntarily taken stringent steps to deal with that problem and the reports indicated he had done so with great success.

Mr Birmingham submitted there were ample grounds to allow the court exercise its discretion not to impose the statutory minimum 10 years sentence for that amount of drugs.

Judge Des Hogan described the attack as "brutal" and the victim was left with a scar.

He said Nolan had previous convictions for similar type offences for which he paid compensation.

Judge Hogan added that in view of Nolan's guilty plea and attempts to deal with his drug problem and his he would exercise his discretion on sentence.

He suspended the final year on conditions.