14-year-old-boy caught with €14,000 worth of heroin

A teenager who, aged 14, was caught storing over €14,000 of heroin in a torch in his mother’s house has had his sentence adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The now 16-year-old, who can not be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply in the south inner city on July 5, 2005.

Judge Patrica Ryan adjourned sentencing until October to allow the teenager make arrangements to sit his junior certificate next year.

Garda Derek McGrath told Ms Cathleen Noctor that gardai searched the house on foot of confidential information and found heroin valued at €14, 020 stored inside a torch wrapped in a sock.

The teenager told gardai that he was holding the drugs for another person since the previous weekend and that he was going to be paid but had not yet received the money.

Gda McGrath said the teenager had no previous convictions and had not come to garda attention.

Defence counsel, Ms Sandra Frayne BL, said the boy was very remorseful and realised he had made a huge mistake. She said he was a quiet young man whose own extended family had been scourged by drugs and this offence was "out of character".