Man who held drugs to move home jailed for six years

A Ballyfermot man who was in financial difficulty, and wanted to move away from what he thought was a bad area in which to raise children, has been jailed for six years for possession of more than €700,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply.

Jonathan Harding, aged 32, of Ballyfermot Drive, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €769,000 of heroin and cannabis, which was found by gardaí on June 7, 2003.

Detective Garda Phillip Collis told Padraig Dwyer BL, prosecuting, that gardaí found 36kg of cannabis resin and 2.5kg of heroin in Harding’s home.

He had been told by his "handlers" to park his car in a designated spot and leave it for a time. The drugs would be in the car upon his return. He had received €500 for each of these "drops".

Det. Garda Collis said Harding had co-operated fully with gardaí and had immediately indicated where the drugs were hidden.

Conor Devally SC, defending, told Judge Frank O’Donnell that Harding had no previous convictions and does not use drugs. He had agreed to hold the drugs as he was under "some financial pressure".

He had wanted to move house, away from what he thought was a bad area in which to raise children. Mr Devally said Harding had made a "foolish, grave error" and had acted in greed and without judgement.