Drug courier has sentenced suspended

A man who acted as a drug courier for a criminal who had offered to organise the return of his stolen motorbikes has been given a suspended sentence and ordered to perform community service.

Daryl Hogg (aged 21), hid "ecstasy" tablets and a sawn off shotgun in his bedroom and told gardaí that he ran "messages" for people he could not name.

Hogg, of Glebe View, Finglas pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the tablets valued at €16,680 and possession of a 12 gauge sawn-off shotgun at his former home on Coultry Drive, Ballymun on January 18, 2005.

Judge Katherine Delahunt said it was an "unusual offence" and she was taking into account the fact he had no previous convictions when imposing a three year suspended sentence. She also ordered him to perform 120 hours community service to be completed within a year.

Sergeant Martin Halpin told Mr Bernard Condon BL, prosecuting, that when gardaí asked Hogg if there was anything in the house which should not be there he pointed at his bedside dresser and a press above his bed.

He told gardaí that he was to be paid €400 for holding the drugs and weapon for people he could not name and was €1,000 in debt to them following a problem with one transaction.

Ms Isobel Kennedy SC, defending, told Judge Delahunt that Hogg was a naive person of previous good character who had become involved in a situation "well beyond him". She said he had an interest in motorbikes and had bought three "to tinker with" but they had been stolen from his back garden.

She said Hogg met a man who said he could organise the return of the bikes in return for a favour which led to her client becoming involved in collecting and delivering drugs. He was admitted to hospital after being beaten during one transaction.

Ms Kennedy said Hogg was under pressure from "more serious individuals" but had since moved away and distanced himself from them.