'Vulnerable' alcoholic jailed for holding over €1m worth of drugs

A "withdrawn and vulnerable" alcoholic who agreed to hold over €1m of cocaine and heroin in return for €500 has been jailed for six years by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Joseph McClean (63), of Tonlegee Avenue, Coolock, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs at his home for sale or supply on March 16, 2006.

Judge Nolan said McClean was a "vulnerable character who was exploited to a degree by people with superior cunning and criminal minds".

He said he also had to take into account the amount of the drugs and "the serious harm these type of drugs have done to communities around the country." Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of six years imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Thomas Waters told Ms Caroline Biggs BL, prosecuting, that as a result of keeping a number of people under surveillance on foot of confidential information gardai observed a suitcase being dropped off at McClean’s home.

McClean was observed leaving the house and returning after receiving a phone call. Gardaí then saw him throw the suitcase into a neighbour’s garden.

Det Sgt Waters said the suitcase was recovered and found to contain three kilograms of cocaine with a street value of €208,950 and 4.5 kg of heroin with a street value of €872,000.

McClean was arrested and said he was to be paid €500 to hold the drugs for collection by another person.

Det Sgt Waters agreed with defence counsel, Mr Conor Devally SC (with Ms Elva Duffy BL), that McClean had no previous convictions and was unlikely to come to garda attention again.

Mr Devally said McClean suffered from a "horrific" dependency on alcohol which was likely to have been a contributing factor to the break up of his marriage and lost of contact with most of his children.

He said he was a "withdrawn and vulnerable" person for whom a custodial sentence would be very difficult.

Mr Devally said McClean "had been used in a callus and cold way by people who would willingly do so without a thought".