Seven years for addict who 'stored cocaine for criminal'

A city centre chronic alcoholic who held drugs valued at over €100,000 for a criminal he feared has been given a seven years sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

James Chambers was described by defence counsel Mr Michael O’Higgins SC as a "broken down alcoholic" who lived "a hand to mouth existence" and was to be paid €2,500 for holding the drugs for a person he feared.

Chambers (aged 45), of North William Street, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at his home address on May 9, 2005.

Garda Charles Armstrong told Mr Fergal Foley BL, prosecuting, that gardaí found nearly a kilo of cocaine valued at €66,248 and six and a half kilos of cannabis valued at €36,193 when they searched Chamber’s address after getting confidential information.

Other drug paraphernalia was also found in Chambers’ basement flat and he told gardai he was selling the drugs for profit. Gda Armstrong said he did not accept this explanation and Chambers’ admitted he was holding the drugs on behalf of a courier.

Gda Armstrong agreed with Mr O’Higgins that Chambers had "talked up" his role as he was in fear and unwilling to name the person he held the drugs for.

Mr O’Higgins said Chambers had previously had a good work history and spent 11 years working as a caretaker for a holiday centre run by the Catholic Youth Council.

He was the second eldest in a family of ten who had helped to raise his younger siblings. While he had always been a drinker, this had "spiralled out of control" after his mother’s death eight years ago and three years ago he moved out of the family home, leaving his wife and three children.

Mr O’Higgins said Chambers spent two years living on the streets until a landlord who knew him and his family gave him somewhere to live.

Since he went into custody last April he had been successfully dealing with his alcoholism. He had been given a responsible job as a cleaner and was at all times polite and courteous to those in authority. Recently his wife had started visiting him and had indicated a reconciliation if he continued to stay sober.

Mr O’Higgins said psychometric testing showed Chambers had "low or average ability across the board" and would be in the bottom percentage in terms of literacy.

Judge Delahunt imposed a seven years sentence with four years suspended on strict conditions.